SACFIR: SDN-Based Application-Aware Centralized Adaptive Flow Iterative Reconfiguring Routing Protocol for WSNs.

PubMed

Aslam, Muhammad; Hu, Xiaopeng; Wang, Fan

2017-12-13

Smart reconfiguration of a dynamic networking environment is offered by the central control of Software-Defined Networking (SDN). Centralized SDN-based management architectures are capable of retrieving global topology intelligence and decoupling the forwarding plane from the control plane. Routing protocols developed for conventional Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) utilize limited iterative reconfiguration methods to optimize environmental reporting. However, the challenging networking scenarios of WSNs involve a performance overhead due to constant periodic iterative reconfigurations. In this paper, we propose the SDN-based Application-aware Centralized adaptive Flow Iterative Reconfiguring (SACFIR) routing protocol with the centralized SDN iterative solver controller to maintain the load-balancing between flow reconfigurations and flow allocation cost. The proposed SACFIR's routing protocol offers a unique iterative path-selection algorithm, which initially computes suitable clustering based on residual resources at the control layer and then implements application-aware threshold-based multi-hop report transmissions on the forwarding plane. The operation of the SACFIR algorithm is centrally supervised by the SDN controller residing at the Base Station (BS). This paper extends SACFIR to SDN-based Application-aware Main-value Centralized adaptive Flow Iterative Reconfiguring (SAMCFIR) to establish both proactive and reactive reporting. The SAMCFIR transmission phase enables sensor nodes to trigger direct transmissions for main-value reports, while in the case of SACFIR, all reports follow computed routes. Our SDN-enabled proposed models adjust the reconfiguration period according to the traffic burden on sensor nodes, which results in heterogeneity awareness, load-balancing and application-specific reconfigurations of WSNs. Extensive experimental simulation-based results show that SACFIR and SAMCFIR yield the maximum scalability, network lifetime and stability period when compared to existing routing protocols.

SACFIR: SDN-Based Application-Aware Centralized Adaptive Flow Iterative Reconfiguring Routing Protocol for WSNs

PubMed Central

Hu, Xiaopeng; Wang, Fan

2017-01-01

Smart reconfiguration of a dynamic networking environment is offered by the central control of Software-Defined Networking (SDN). Centralized SDN-based management architectures are capable of retrieving global topology intelligence and decoupling the forwarding plane from the control plane. Routing protocols developed for conventional Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) utilize limited iterative reconfiguration methods to optimize environmental reporting. However, the challenging networking scenarios of WSNs involve a performance overhead due to constant periodic iterative reconfigurations. In this paper, we propose the SDN-based Application-aware Centralized adaptive Flow Iterative Reconfiguring (SACFIR) routing protocol with the centralized SDN iterative solver controller to maintain the load-balancing between flow reconfigurations and flow allocation cost. The proposed SACFIR’s routing protocol offers a unique iterative path-selection algorithm, which initially computes suitable clustering based on residual resources at the control layer and then implements application-aware threshold-based multi-hop report transmissions on the forwarding plane. The operation of the SACFIR algorithm is centrally supervised by the SDN controller residing at the Base Station (BS). This paper extends SACFIR to SDN-based Application-aware Main-value Centralized adaptive Flow Iterative Reconfiguring (SAMCFIR) to establish both proactive and reactive reporting. The SAMCFIR transmission phase enables sensor nodes to trigger direct transmissions for main-value reports, while in the case of SACFIR, all reports follow computed routes. Our SDN-enabled proposed models adjust the reconfiguration period according to the traffic burden on sensor nodes, which results in heterogeneity awareness, load-balancing and application-specific reconfigurations of WSNs. Extensive experimental simulation-based results show that SACFIR and SAMCFIR yield the maximum scalability, network lifetime and stability period when compared to existing routing protocols. PMID:29236031

Application of precomputed control laws in a reconfigurable aircraft flight control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moerder, Daniel D.; Halyo, Nesim; Broussard, John R.; Caglayan, Alper K.

1989-01-01

A self-repairing flight control system concept in which the control law is reconfigured after actuator and/or control surface damage to preserve stability and pilot command tracking is described. A key feature of the controller is reconfigurable multivariable feedback. The feedback gains are designed off-line and scheduled as a function of the aircraft control impairment status so that reconfiguration is performed simply by updating the gain schedule after detection of an impairment. A novel aspect of the gain schedule design procedure is that the schedule is calculated using a linear quadratic optimization-based simultaneous stabilization algorithm in which the scheduled gain is constrained to stabilize a collection of plant models representing the aircraft in various control failure modes. A description and numerical evaluation of a controller design for a model of a statically unstable high-performance aircraft are given.

77 FR 41973 - Record of Decision for the Entry Control Reconfiguration and Base Perimeter Fence Relocation in...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-17

... Reconfiguration and Base Perimeter Fence Relocation in area A Wright-Patterson AF Base, Ohio, Final Environmental..., 2012, the United States Air Force signed the ROD for the Entry Control Reconfiguration and Base Perimeter Fence Relocation in Area A Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio Final Environmental...

76 FR 53352 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Alice, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-26

... procedures at Old Hoppe Place Airport, Agua Dulce, TX, has made this action necessary for the safety and..., area. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface is being removed at Old... extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth. * * * * * ASW TX E5 Alice, TX...

75 FR 64972 - Proposed Revocation of Class E Airspace; Lone Star, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-21

...-0772; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASW-10] Proposed Revocation of Class E Airspace; Lone Star, TX AGENCY... action proposes to remove Class E airspace at Lone Star, TX. Abandonment of the former Lone Star Steel... need for controlled airspace in the Lone Star, TX, area. The FAA is taking this action to ensure the...

75 FR 17851 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-08

...-0926; Airspace Docket No. 09-ASW-26] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Dallas-Fort Worth, TX AGENCY... airspace in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new... proposed rulemaking to amend Class E airspace for the Dallas- Fort Worth, TX area (74 FR 57617) Docket No...

76 FR 28888 - Revocation of Class E Airspace; Gruver Cluck Ranch Airport, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-19

...-0272; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASW-3] Revocation of Class E Airspace; Gruver Cluck Ranch Airport, TX... Class E airspace at Gruver, Cluck Ranch Airport, TX. The airport has been abandoned, thereby eliminating the need for controlled airspace in the Gruver, Cluck Ranch Airport, TX, area. The FAA is taking this...

Optimal Redundancy Management in Reconfigurable Control Systems Based on Normalized Nonspecificity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, N.Eva; Klir, George J.

1998-01-01

In this paper the notion of normalized nonspecificity is introduced. The nonspecifity measures the uncertainty of the estimated parameters that reflect impairment in a controlled system. Based on this notion, a quantity called a reconfiguration coverage is calculated. It represents the likelihood of success of a control reconfiguration action. This coverage links the overall system reliability to the achievable and required control, as well as diagnostic performance. The coverage, when calculated on-line, is used for managing the redundancy in the system.

The novel hypoxic cytotoxin, TX-2098 has antitumor effect in pancreatic cancer; possible mechanism through inhibiting VEGF and hypoxia inducible factor-1{alpha} targeted gene expression

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

Miyake, Kotaro, E-mail: hif.panc@gmail.com; Nishioka, Masanori; Imura, Satoru

Tumor hypoxia has been considered to be a potential therapeutic target, because hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors and is associated with their malignant phenotype. In the present study, we investigated the antitumor effect of a novel hypoxic cytotoxin, 3-[2-hydroxyethyl(methyl)amino]-2-quinoxalinecarbonitrile 1,4-dioxide (TX-2098) in inhibiting the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1{alpha} (HIF-1{alpha}), and consequently vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) expression in pancreatic cancer. The antitumor effects of TX-2098 under hypoxia were tested against various human pancreatic cancer cell lines using WST-8 assay. VEGF protein induced pancreatic cancer was determined on cell-free supernatant by ELISA. Moreover, nude mice bearingmore » subcutaneously (s.c.) or orthotopically implanted human SUIT-2 were treated with TX-2098. Tumor volume, survival and expression of HIF-1 and associated molecules were evaluated in treatment versus control groups. In vitro, TX-2098 inhibited the proliferation of various pancreatic cancer cell lines. In s.c model, tumors from nude mice injected with pancreatic cancer cells and treated with TX-2098 showed significant reductions in volume (P < 0.01 versus control). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that TX-2098 significantly inhibited mRNA expression of the HIF-1 associated molecules, VEGF, glucose transporter 1 and Aldolase A (P < 0.01 versus control). These treatments also prolong the survival in orthotopic models. These results suggest that the effect of TX-2098 in pancreatic cancer might be correlated with the expression of VEGF and HIF-1 targeted molecules. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We designed and synthesized novel hypoxic cytoxin, TX-2098. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TX-2098 inhibited the proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells than TPZ. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TX-2098 reduced VEGF protein level than TPZ. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TX-2098 inhibited mRNA expression of VEGF, GLUT1 and Aldolase A, not HIF-1{alpha}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TX-2098 improved the survival in orthotopic SUIT-2 xenograft model.« less

An intelligent control system for failure detection and controller reconfiguration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Biswas, Saroj K.

1994-01-01

We present an architecture of an intelligent restructurable control system to automatically detect failure of system components, assess its impact on system performance and safety, and reconfigure the controller for performance recovery. Fault detection is based on neural network associative memories and pattern classifiers, and is implemented using a multilayer feedforward network. Details of the fault detection network along with simulation results on health monitoring of a dc motor have been presented. Conceptual developments for fault assessment using an expert system and controller reconfiguration using a neural network are outlined.

Reconfigurable Pointing Control for High Resolution Space Spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bayard, David S.; Kia, Tooraj; vanCleve, Jeffrey

1997-01-01

In this paper, a pointing control performance criteria is established to support high resolution space spectroscopy. Results indicate that these pointing requirements are very stringent, and would typically be difficult to meet using standard 3-axis spacecraft control. To resolve this difficulty, it is shown that performance can be significantly improved using a reconfigurable control architecture that switches among a small bank of detuned Kalman filters. The effectiveness of the control reconfiguration approach is demonstrated by example on the Space Infra, Red Telescope Facility (SIRTF) pointing system, in support of the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) payload.

Comparison of Two Foreign Body Retrieval Devices with Adjustable Loops in a Swine Model

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

Konya, Andras

2006-12-15

The purpose of the study was to compare two similar foreign body retrieval devices, the Texan{sup TM} (TX) and the Texan LONGhorn{sup TM} (TX-LG), in a swine model. Both devices feature a {<=}30-mm adjustable loop. Capture times and total procedure times for retrieving foreign bodies from the infrarenal aorta, inferior vena cava, and stomach were compared. All attempts with both devices (TX, n = 15; TX-LG, n = 14) were successful. Foreign bodies in the vasculature were captured quickly using both devices (mean {+-} SD, 88 {+-} 106 sec for TX vs 67 {+-} 42 sec for TX-LG) with nomore » significant difference between them. The TX-LG, however, allowed significantly better capture times than the TX in the stomach (p = 0.022), Overall, capture times for the TX-LG were significantly better than for the TX (p = 0.029). There was no significant difference between the total procedure times in any anatomic region. TX-LG performed significantly better than the TX in the stomach and therefore overall. The better torque control and maneuverability of TX-LG resulted in better performance in large anatomic spaces.« less

Reconfiguration control system for an aircraft wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wakayama, Sean R. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

Independently deflectable control surfaces are located on the trailing edge of the wing of a blended wing-body aircraft. The reconfiguration control system of the present invention controls the deflection of each control surface to optimize the spanwise lift distribution across the wing for each of several flight conditions, e.g., cruise, pitch maneuver, and high lift at low speed. The control surfaces are deflected and reconfigured to their predetermined optimal positions when the aircraft is in each of the aforementioned flight conditions. With respect to cruise, the reconfiguration control system will maximize the lift to drag ratio and keep the aircraft trimmed at a stable angle of attack. In a pitch maneuver, the control surfaces are deflected to pitch the aircraft and increase lift. Moreover, this increased lift has its spanwise center of pressure shifted inboard relative to its location for cruise. This inboard shifting reduces the increased bending moment about the aircraft's x-axis occasioned by the increased pitch force acting normal to the wing. To optimize high lift at low speed, during take-off and landing for example, the control surfaces are reconfigured to increase the local maximum coefficient of lift at stall-critical spanwise locations while providing pitch trim with control surfaces that are not stall critical.

Reconfigurable Autonomy for Future Planetary Rovers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burroughes, Guy

Extra-terrestrial Planetary rover systems are uniquely remote, placing constraints in regard to communication, environmental uncertainty, and limited physical resources, and requiring a high level of fault tolerance and resistance to hardware degradation. This thesis presents a novel self-reconfiguring autonomous software architecture designed to meet the needs of extraterrestrial planetary environments. At runtime it can safely reconfigure low-level control systems, high-level decisional autonomy systems, and managed software architecture. The architecture can perform automatic Verification and Validation of self-reconfiguration at run-time, and enables a system to be self-optimising, self-protecting, and self-healing. A novel self-monitoring system, which is non-invasive, efficient, tunable, and autonomously deploying, is also presented. The architecture was validated through the use-case of a highly autonomous extra-terrestrial planetary exploration rover. Three major forms of reconfiguration were demonstrated and tested: first, high level adjustment of system internal architecture and goal; second, software module modification; and third, low level alteration of hardware control in response to degradation of hardware and environmental change. The architecture was demonstrated to be robust and effective in a Mars sample return mission use-case testing the operational aspects of a novel, reconfigurable guidance, navigation, and control system for a planetary rover, all operating in concert through a scenario that required reconfiguration of all elements of the system.

SB certification for mixture-based specification for flexible base.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-10-01

Presentation topics: : Establish List of Qualified Producers; : Producers Responsible for Process Control/Quality Control; : Reduce TxDOT Sampling and Testing; : Expedite Aggregate Base Acceptance; : Share Responsibility (Producer/TxDOT) for Quality ...

Customization of user interfaces to reduce errors and enhance user acceptance.

PubMed

Burkolter, Dina; Weyers, Benjamin; Kluge, Annette; Luther, Wolfram

2014-03-01

Customization is assumed to reduce error and increase user acceptance in the human-machine relation. Reconfiguration gives the operator the option to customize a user interface according to his or her own preferences. An experimental study with 72 computer science students using a simulated process control task was conducted. The reconfiguration group (RG) interactively reconfigured their user interfaces and used the reconfigured user interface in the subsequent test whereas the control group (CG) used a default user interface. Results showed significantly lower error rates and higher acceptance of the RG compared to the CG while there were no significant differences between the groups regarding situation awareness and mental workload. Reconfiguration seems to be promising and therefore warrants further exploration. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

Effect of intensive LDL cholesterol lowering with PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies on tendon xanthoma regression in familial hypercholesterolemia.

PubMed

Bea, Ana M; Perez-Calahorra, Sofia; Marco-Benedi, Victoria; Lamiquiz-Moneo, Itziar; Jarauta, Estibaliz; Mateo-Gallego, Rocio; Civeira, Fernando

2017-08-01

The effect of LDLc lowering with PCSK9 antibodies on tendon xanthomas (TX) is unknown. TX was measured in 24 heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) cases and in 24 HeFH controls with or without PCSK9 inhibitors for at least one year. Exposure to PCSK9 inhibitors in cases was 2.96 ± 1.33 years. LDLc decreased 80.8 ± 7.66% in cases and 56.9 ± 11.1% in controls. There was a decrease in maximum (-5.03%) and mean (-5.32%) TX in cases but not in controls (+3.97%, +3.16, respectively, p = 0.01). PCSK9 inhibitor treatment was independently associated with TX reduction. Addition of a PCSK9 inhibitor to statin and ezetimibe resulted in a greater decrease in LDLc and TX after 3 years of treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Functional and physiological effects of treadmill training induced by buspirone, carbidopa, and L-DOPA in clenbuterol-treated paraplegic mice.

PubMed

Ung, Roth-Visal; Rouleau, Pascal; Guertin, Pierre A

2012-05-01

Chronic spinal cord injury may be complicated by weight loss, muscle atrophy, and bone loss. The authors identified a combination pharmacotherapy using buspirone, carbidopa, and L-DOPA (BCD) that elicits bouts of locomotor-like movements in spinal cord-transected (Tx) mice. They then evaluated the effects of 8 weeks of treadmill training in Tx mice that received BCD or BCD + clenbuterol, a monoaminergic agent with anabolic properties, on locomotor function, muscle atrophy, adipose tissue loss, and bone density measures. Induced locomotor movement, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and femoral bone properties were compared in unoperated control mice, operated controls (untreated, untrained Tx mice), and 2 groups of treated, trained Tx mice (Tx + BCD, Tx + BCD + clenbuterol) that also received training. BCD- and BCD + clenbuterol-treated mice showed comparable levels of locomotor movements that significantly improved over time. Soleus muscle mass and soleus and extensor digitorum longus cross-sectional area significantly increased in both groups of BCD-treated mice, with greater effects in BCD + clenbuterol-treated animals. Fiber type conversion, adipose tissues, bone mineral density, and content were reduced in all Tx groups compared with unoperated control mice. These findings suggest that locomotor movement and muscle properties can be restored to near-normal levels after several weeks of BCD treatment, regular training, and clenbuterol in completely paraplegic animals.

Reliability Assessment of Reconfigurable Flight Control Systems Using Sure and Assist

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, N. Eva

1992-01-01

This paper presents a reliability assessment of Reconfigurable Flight Control Systems using Semi-Markov Unreliability Range Evaluator (SURE) and Abstract Semi-Markov Specification Interface to the SURE Tool (ASSIST).

78 FR 48298 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Commerce, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-08

...-0269; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-3] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Commerce, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at Commerce, TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV...

76 FR 40598 - Establishment of Class E Airspace; Campbellton, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-11

...-1053; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASW-15] Establishment of Class E Airspace; Campbellton, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace... proposed rulemaking to establish Class E airspace for Campbellton, TX, creating controlled airspace at 74...

76 FR 43822 - Establishment of Class E Airspace; Hearne, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-22

...-0214; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASW-2] Establishment of Class E Airspace; Hearne, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace... notice of proposed rulemaking to establish Class E airspace for Hearne, TX, creating controlled airspace...

77 FR 56761 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Kerrville, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-14

...-1399; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASW-14] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Kerrville, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at... Class E airspace for the Kerrville, TX, area, creating additional controlled airspace at Kerrville...

Design of parallel transmission pulses for simultaneous multislice with explicit control for peak power and local specific absorption rate.

PubMed

Guérin, Bastien; Setsompop, Kawin; Ye, Huihui; Poser, Benedikt A; Stenger, Andrew V; Wald, Lawrence L

2015-05-01

To design parallel transmit (pTx) simultaneous multislice (SMS) spokes pulses with explicit control for peak power and local and global specific absorption rate (SAR). We design SMS pTx least-squares and magnitude least squares spokes pulses while constraining local SAR using the virtual observation points (VOPs) compression of SAR matrices. We evaluate our approach in simulations of a head (7T) and a body (3T) coil with eight channels arranged in two z-rows. For many of our simulations, control of average power by Tikhonov regularization of the SMS pTx spokes pulse design yielded pulses that violated hardware and SAR safety limits. On the other hand, control of peak power alone yielded pulses that violated local SAR limits. Pulses optimized with control of both local SAR and peak power satisfied all constraints and therefore had the best excitation performance under limited power and SAR constraints. These results extend our previous results for single slice pTx excitations but are more pronounced because of the large power demands and SAR of SMS pulses. Explicit control of local SAR and peak power is required to generate optimal SMS pTx excitations satisfying both the system's hardware limits and regulatory safety limits. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A fault-tolerant control architecture for unmanned aerial vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drozeski, Graham R.

Research has presented several approaches to achieve varying degrees of fault-tolerance in unmanned aircraft. Approaches in reconfigurable flight control are generally divided into two categories: those which incorporate multiple non-adaptive controllers and switch between them based on the output of a fault detection and identification element, and those that employ a single adaptive controller capable of compensating for a variety of fault modes. Regardless of the approach for reconfigurable flight control, certain fault modes dictate system restructuring in order to prevent a catastrophic failure. System restructuring enables active control of actuation not employed by the nominal system to recover controllability of the aircraft. After system restructuring, continued operation requires the generation of flight paths that adhere to an altered flight envelope. The control architecture developed in this research employs a multi-tiered hierarchy to allow unmanned aircraft to generate and track safe flight paths despite the occurrence of potentially catastrophic faults. The hierarchical architecture increases the level of autonomy of the system by integrating five functionalities with the baseline system: fault detection and identification, active system restructuring, reconfigurable flight control; reconfigurable path planning, and mission adaptation. Fault detection and identification algorithms continually monitor aircraft performance and issue fault declarations. When the severity of a fault exceeds the capability of the baseline flight controller, active system restructuring expands the controllability of the aircraft using unconventional control strategies not exploited by the baseline controller. Each of the reconfigurable flight controllers and the baseline controller employ a proven adaptive neural network control strategy. A reconfigurable path planner employs an adaptive model of the vehicle to re-shape the desired flight path. Generation of the revised flight path is posed as a linear program constrained by the response of the degraded system. Finally, a mission adaptation component estimates limitations on the closed-loop performance of the aircraft and adjusts the aircraft mission accordingly. A combination of simulation and flight test results using two unmanned helicopters validates the utility of the hierarchical architecture.

Tools and Functions of Reconfigurable Colloidal Assembly.

PubMed

Solomon, Michael J

2018-02-19

We review work in reconfigurable colloidal assembly, a field in which rapid, back-and-forth transitions between the equilibrium states of colloidal self-assembly are accomplished by dynamic manipulation of the size, shape, and interaction potential of colloids, as well as the magnitude and direction of the fields applied to them. It is distinguished from the study of colloidal phase transitions by the centrality of thermodynamic variables and colloidal properties that are time switchable; by the applicability of these changes to generate transitions in assembled colloids that may be spatially localized; and by its incorporation of the effects of generalized potentials due to, for example, applied electric and magnetic fields. By drawing upon current progress in the field, we propose a matrix classification of reconfigurable colloidal systems based on the tool used and function performed by reconfiguration. The classification distinguishes between the multiple means by which reconfigurable assembly can be accomplished (i.e., the tools of reconfiguration) and the different kinds of structural transitions that can be achieved by it (i.e., the functions of reconfiguration). In the first case, the tools of reconfiguration can be broadly classed as (i) those that control the colloidal contribution to the system entropy-as through volumetric and/or shape changes of the particles; (ii) those that control the internal energy of the colloids-as through manipulation of colloidal interaction potentials; and (iii) those that control the spatially resolved potential energy that is imposed on the colloids-as through the introduction of field-induced phoretic mechanisms that yield colloidal displacement and accumulation. In the second case, the functions of reconfiguration include reversible: (i) transformation between different phases-including fluid, cluster, gel, and crystal structures; (ii) manipulation of the spacing between colloids in crystals and clusters; and (iii) translation, rotation, or shape-change of finite-size objects self-assembled from colloids. With this classification in hand, we correlate the current limits on the spatiotemporal scales for reconfigurable colloidal assembly and identify a set of future research challenges.

75 FR 43886 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Corpus Christi, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-27

...-0404; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASW-7] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Corpus Christi, TX AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace in the Corpus Christi, TX area. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Corpus Christi...

75 FR 66301 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Corpus Christi, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-28

... the Corpus Christi, TX, area. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Corpus Christi International Airport, Corpus Christi, TX. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the...

76 FR 43821 - Establishment of Class E Airspace; Ranger, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-22

...-1240; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASW-18] Establishment of Class E Airspace; Ranger, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace... Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish Class E airspace for Ranger, TX, creating controlled...

Facilitating preemptive hardware system design using partial reconfiguration techniques.

PubMed

Dondo Gazzano, Julio; Rincon, Fernando; Vaderrama, Carlos; Villanueva, Felix; Caba, Julian; Lopez, Juan Carlos

2014-01-01

In FPGA-based control system design, partial reconfiguration is especially well suited to implement preemptive systems. In real-time systems, the deadline for critical task can compel the preemption of noncritical one. Besides, an asynchronous event can demand immediate attention and, then, force launching a reconfiguration process for high-priority task implementation. If the asynchronous event is previously scheduled, an explicit activation of the reconfiguration process is performed. If the event cannot be previously programmed, such as in dynamically scheduled systems, an implicit activation to the reconfiguration process is demanded. This paper provides a hardware-based approach to explicit and implicit activation of the partial reconfiguration process in dynamically reconfigurable SoCs and includes all the necessary tasks to cope with this issue. Furthermore, the reconfiguration service introduced in this work allows remote invocation of the reconfiguration process and then the remote integration of off-chip components. A model that offers component location transparency is also presented to enhance and facilitate system integration.

Facilitating Preemptive Hardware System Design Using Partial Reconfiguration Techniques

PubMed Central

Rincon, Fernando; Vaderrama, Carlos; Villanueva, Felix; Caba, Julian; Lopez, Juan Carlos

2014-01-01

In FPGA-based control system design, partial reconfiguration is especially well suited to implement preemptive systems. In real-time systems, the deadline for critical task can compel the preemption of noncritical one. Besides, an asynchronous event can demand immediate attention and, then, force launching a reconfiguration process for high-priority task implementation. If the asynchronous event is previously scheduled, an explicit activation of the reconfiguration process is performed. If the event cannot be previously programmed, such as in dynamically scheduled systems, an implicit activation to the reconfiguration process is demanded. This paper provides a hardware-based approach to explicit and implicit activation of the partial reconfiguration process in dynamically reconfigurable SoCs and includes all the necessary tasks to cope with this issue. Furthermore, the reconfiguration service introduced in this work allows remote invocation of the reconfiguration process and then the remote integration of off-chip components. A model that offers component location transparency is also presented to enhance and facilitate system integration. PMID:24672292

Lipid and apolipoproteins (ApoAI, ApoB, Apo CIII, ApoE) disturbance in hemodialysis (HD) and renal transplant (Tx) patients.

PubMed

Janicki, Krzysztof; Solski, Janusz; Janicka, Lucyna; Kimak, Elzbieta; Bednarek-Skublewska, Anna; Stettner, Seweryn; Molas, Grzegorz

2004-01-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum lipid and apolipoprotein profiles among patients after renal transplantation (Tx) and to compare them with the profiles obtained for permanently hemodialysed patients (HD). The investigations were performed at 15 Tx, 40 HD patients and the control group of 40 healthy subjects. There were significantly increased TG, ApoAIII, ApoE, TC/ HDL-C, ApoCIII non B, ApoCIII:B and decreased HDL-C, ApoAI, HDL-C/ApoAI, ApoAI/ApoCIII, ApoB/ApoCIII ratios comparing HD patients to the control group. There were increased TG, ApoCIII, ApoCIII non B, ApoB/ApoCIII ratios and decreased ApoAI/ApoCIII ratios in Tx patients as compared to the control subjects. Moreover, there were significantly higher HDL, ApoAI, HDL/ApoAI, ApoCIII non B and lower ApoE, ApoE/ApoB, ApoCIII:B ratios in Tx patients as compared to these of HD patients. Significant inverse correlation of the time which passed from executed Tx and ApoCIII:B ratio (r = -0.67; p < 0.01) at renal transplant patients were observed, which means the diminished risk of development of atherosclerosis.

75 FR 13453 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Corpus Christi, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-22

...-0089; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASW-1] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Corpus Christi, TX AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace in the Corpus Christi, TX area. Additional controlled airspace... adding additional Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in the Corpus Christi...

Modular, Reconfigurable, High-Energy Technology Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carrington, Connie; Howell, Joe

2006-01-01

The Modular, Reconfigurable High-Energy (MRHE) Technology Demonstrator project was to have been a series of ground-based demonstrations to mature critical technologies needed for in-space assembly of a highpower high-voltage modular spacecraft in low Earth orbit, enabling the development of future modular solar-powered exploration cargo-transport vehicles and infrastructure. MRHE was a project in the High Energy Space Systems (HESS) Program, within NASA's Exploration Systems Research and Technology (ESR&T) Program. NASA participants included Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Glenn Research Center (GRC). Contractor participants were the Boeing Phantom Works in Huntsville, AL, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA, ENTECH, Inc. in Keller, TX, and the University of AL Huntsville (UAH). MRHE's technical objectives were to mature: (a) lightweight, efficient, high-voltage, radiation-resistant solar power generation (SPG) technologies; (b) innovative, lightweight, efficient thermal management systems; (c) efficient, 100kW-class, high-voltage power delivery systems from an SPG to an electric thruster system; (d) autonomous rendezvous and docking technology for in-space assembly of modular, reconfigurable spacecraft; (e) robotic assembly of modular space systems; and (f) modular, reconfigurable distributed avionics technologies. Maturation of these technologies was to be implemented through a series of increasingly-inclusive laboratory demonstrations that would have integrated and demonstrated two systems-of-systems: (a) the autonomous rendezvous and docking of modular spacecraft with deployable structures, robotic assembly, reconfiguration both during assembly and (b) the development and integration of an advanced thermal heat pipe and a high-voltage power delivery system with a representative lightweight high-voltage SPG array. In addition, an integrated simulation testbed would have been developed containing software models representing the technologies being matured in the laboratory demos. The testbed would have also included models for non-MRHE developed subsystems such as electric propulsion, so that end-to-end performance could have been assessed. This paper presents an overview of the MRHE Phase I activities at MSFC and its contractor partners. One of the major Phase I accomplishments is the assembly demonstration in the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (LMATC) Robot-Satellite facility, in which three robot-satellites successfully demonstrated rendezvous & docking, self-assembly, reconfiguration, adaptable GN&C, deployment, and interfaces between modules. Phase I technology maturation results from ENTECH include material recommendations for radiation hardened Stretched Lens Array (SLA) concentrator lenses, and a design concept and test results for a hi-voltage PV receiver. UAH's accomplishments include Supertube heatpipe test results, which support estimates of thermal conductivities at 30,000 times that of an equivalent silver rod. MSFC performed systems trades and developed a preliminary concept design for a 100kW-class modular reconfigurable solar electric propulsion transport vehicle, and Boeing Phantom Works in Huntsville performed assembly and rendezvous and docking trades. A concept animation video was produced by SAIC, wllich showed rendezvous and docking and SLA-square-rigger deployment in LEO.

Graphene-based Yagi-Uda antenna with reconfigurable radiation patterns

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

Wu, Yongle, E-mail: wuyongle138@gmail.com; Qu, Meijun; Jiao, Lingxiao

This paper presents a radiation pattern reconfigurable Yagi-Uda antenna based on graphene operating at terahertz frequencies. The antenna can be reconfigured to change the main beam pattern into two or four different radiation directions. The proposed antenna consists of a driven dipole radiation conductor, parasitic strips and embedded graphene. The hybrid graphene-metal implementation enables the antenna to have dynamic surface conductivity, which can be tuned by changing the chemical potentials. Therefore, the main beam direction, the resonance frequency, and the front-to-back ratio of the proposed antenna can be controlled by tuning the chemical potentials of the graphene embedded in differentmore » positions. The proposed two-beam reconfigurable Yagi-Uda antenna can achieve excellent unidirectional symmetrical radiation pattern with the front-to-back ratio of 11.9 dB and the10-dB impedance bandwidth of 15%. The different radiation directivity of the two-beam reconfigurable antenna can be achieved by controlling the chemical potentials of the graphene embedded in the parasitic stubs. The achievable peak gain of the proposed two-beam reconfigurable antenna is about 7.8 dB. Furthermore, we propose a four-beam reconfigurable Yagi-Uda antenna, which has stable reflection-coefficient performance although four main beams in reconfigurable cases point to four totally different directions. The corresponding peak gain, front-to-back ratio, and 10-dB impedance bandwidth of the four-beam reconfigurable antenna are about 6.4 dB, 12 dB, and 10%, respectively. Therefore, this novel design method of reconfigurable antennas is extremely promising for beam-scanning in terahertz and mid-infrared plasmonic devices and systems.« less

Fate and distribution of brevetoxin (PbTx) following lysis of Karenia brevis by algicidal bacteria, including analysis of open A-ring derivatives.

PubMed

Roth, Patricia B; Twiner, Michael J; Wang, Zhihong; Bottein Dechraoui, Marie-Yasmine; Doucette, Gregory J

2007-12-15

Flavobacteriaceae (strain S03) and Cytophaga sp. (strain 41-DBG2) are algicidal bacteria active against the brevetoxin (PbTx)-producing, red tide dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. Little is known about the fate of PbTx associated with K. brevis cells following attack by such bacteria. The fate and distribution of PbTx in K. brevis cultures exposed to these algicidal strains were thus examined by receptor binding assay and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) in three size fractions (>5, 0.22-5, <0.22microm) over a 2-week time course. In control cultures, brevetoxin concentrations in the >5microm particulate size fraction correlated with changes in cell density, whereas significant increases in dissolved (i.e., <0.22microm) toxin were observed in the later stages of culture growth. Exposure of K. brevis to either of the two algicidal bacteria tested caused cell lysis, coinciding with a rapid decline in the >5microm PbTX size fraction and a simultaneous release of dissolved toxin into the growth medium. Upon cell lysis, dissolved brevetoxin accounted for ca. 60% of total toxin and consisted of 51-82% open A-ring derivatives. Open A-ring PbTx-2 and PbTx-3 derivatives bound with lower affinity (approximately 22- and 57-fold, respectively) to voltage-gated sodium channels and were considerably less cytotoxic (86- and 142-fold, respectively) to N2A cells than their individual parent toxins (i.e., PbTx-2 and PbTx-3). These novel findings of changes in PbTx size-fractioned distribution and overall reduction in K. brevis toxicity following attack by algicidal bacteria improve our understanding of potential trophic transfer routes and the fate of PbTx during red tide events. Moreover, this information will be important to consider when evaluating the potential role of algicidal bacteria in harmful algal bloom (HAB) management strategies involving control of bloom populations.

Two Reconfigurable Flight-Control Design Methods: Robust Servomechanism and Control Allocation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burken, John J.; Lu, Ping; Wu, Zheng-Lu; Bahm, Cathy

2001-01-01

Two methods for control system reconfiguration have been investigated. The first method is a robust servomechanism control approach (optimal tracking problem) that is a generalization of the classical proportional-plus-integral control to multiple input-multiple output systems. The second method is a control-allocation approach based on a quadratic programming formulation. A globally convergent fixed-point iteration algorithm has been developed to make onboard implementation of this method feasible. These methods have been applied to reconfigurable entry flight control design for the X-33 vehicle. Examples presented demonstrate simultaneous tracking of angle-of-attack and roll angle commands during failures of the fight body flap actuator. Although simulations demonstrate success of the first method in most cases, the control-allocation method appears to provide uniformly better performance in all cases.

Ethyl pyruvate ameliorates hepatic injury following blunt chest trauma and hemorrhagic shock by reducing local inflammation, NF-kappaB activation and HMGB1 release.

PubMed

Wagner, Nils; Dieteren, Scott; Franz, Niklas; Köhler, Kernt; Mörs, Katharina; Nicin, Luka; Schmidt, Julia; Perl, Mario; Marzi, Ingo; Relja, Borna

2018-01-01

The treatment of patients with multiple trauma including blunt chest/thoracic trauma (TxT) and hemorrhagic shock (H) is still challenging. Numerous studies show detrimental consequences of TxT and HS resulting in strong inflammatory changes, organ injury and mortality. Additionally, the reperfusion (R) phase plays a key role in triggering inflammation and worsening outcome. Ethyl pyruvate (EP), a stable lipophilic ester, has anti-inflammatory properties. Here, the influence of EP on the inflammatory reaction and liver injury in a double hit model of TxT and H/R in rats was explored. Female Lewis rats were subjected to TxT followed by hemorrhage/H (60 min, 35±3 mm Hg) and resuscitation/R (TxT+H/R). Reperfusion was performed by either Ringer`s lactated solution (RL) alone or RL supplemented with EP (50 mg/kg). Sham animals underwent all surgical procedures without TxT+H/R. After 2h, blood and liver tissue were collected for analyses, and survival was assessed after 24h. Resuscitation with EP significantly improved haemoglobin levels and base excess recovery compared with controls after TxT+H/R, respectively (p<0.05). TxT+H/R-induced significant increase in alanine aminotransferase levels and liver injury were attenuated by EP compared with controls (p<0.05). Local inflammation as shown by increased gene expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1, enhanced ICAM-1 and HMGB1 protein expression and infiltration of the liver with neutrophils were also significantly attenuated by EP compared with controls after TxT+H/R (p<0.05). EP significantly reduced TxT+H/R-induced p65 activation in liver tissue. Survival rates improved by EP from 50% to 70% after TxT+H/R. These data support the concept that the pronounced local pro-inflammatory response in the liver after blunt chest trauma and hemorrhagic shock is associated with NF-κB. In particular, the beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of ethyl pyruvate seem to be regulated by the HMGB1/NF-κB axis in the liver, thereby, restraining inflammatory responses and liver injury after double hit trauma in the rat.

Reconfigurable Flight Control Designs With Application to the X-33 Vehicle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burken, John J.; Lu, Ping; Wu, Zhenglu

1999-01-01

Two methods for control system reconfiguration have been investigated. The first method is a robust servomechanism control approach (optimal tracking problem) that is a generalization of the classical proportional-plus-integral control to multiple input-multiple output systems. The second method is a control-allocation approach based on a quadratic programming formulation. A globally convergent fixed-point iteration algorithm has been developed to make onboard implementation of this method feasible. These methods have been applied to reconfigurable entry flight control design for the X-33 vehicle. Examples presented demonstrate simultaneous tracking of angle-of-attack and roll angle commands during failures of the right body flap actuator. Although simulations demonstrate success of the first method in most cases, the control-allocation method appears to provide uniformly better performance in all cases.

A 2.4 GHz ULP reconfigurable asymmetric transceiver for single-chip wireless neural recording IC.

PubMed

Tan, Jun; Liew, Wen-Sin; Heng, Chun-Huat; Lian, Yong

2014-08-01

This paper presents a 2.4 GHz ultra-low-power (ULP) reconfigurable asymmetric transceiver and demonstrates its application in wireless neural recording. Fabricated in 0.13 μm CMOS technology, the transceiver is optimized for sensor-gateway communications within a star-shaped network, and supports both the sensor and gateway operation modes. Binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) modulation with high data rate (DR) of 1 to 8 Mbps is used in the uplink from sensor to gateway, while on-off keying (OOK) modulation with low DR of 100 kbps is adopted in the downlink. A fully integrated Class-E PA with moderate output power has also been proposed and achieves power efficiency of 53%. To minimize area usage, inductor reuse is adopted between PA and LNA, and eliminates the need of lossy T/R switch in the RF signal path. When used as sensor, the transceiver with frequency locked phase-locked loop (PLL) achieves TX (BPSK) power efficiency of 28% @ 0 dBm output power, and RX (OOK) sensitivity of -80 dBm @ 100 kbps while consuming only 780 μW . When configured as gateway, the transceiver achieves sensitivity levels of -92, -84.5, and -77 dBm for 1, 5, and 8 Mbps BPSK, respectively. The transceiver is integrated with an 8-channel neural recording front-end, and neural signals from a rat are captured to verify the system functionality.

Preemptive living-donor kidney transplantation: clinical course and outcome.

PubMed

el-Agroudy, Amgad E; Donia, Ahmed F; Bakr, Mohamed A; Foda, Mohamed A; Ghoneim, Mohamed A

2004-05-15

Dialysis is not only associated with morbidity, it is also expensive. In developing countries, preemptive renal transplantation (Tx) may be a cost-effective option, offering an additional benefit to conventional renal Tx. Between March 1976 and March 2001, 1,279 first living-donor Txs were performed in our center. The 82 patients (6.4%) who underwent Tx without prior dialysis were compared with 1,197 patients who had been dialyzed before Tx. The dialysis-dependent group received more blood transfusions (65% vs. 30%) before Tx. Actuarial graft and patient survival at 5 years was comparable in both groups (P =0.2 and P =0.8, respectively). The incidence of acute and chronic rejection was not different between the two groups. Mortality rate was also similar in the two groups. The main cause of death with a functioning graft was cardiovascular in the preemptive Tx group and chronic liver disease and infection in the control group. In the context of a developing country, preemptive Tx offers comparable patient and graft survival to conventional renal Tx and eliminates the complications, inconvenience, and cost of dialysis.

76 FR 59162 - Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993-National Center...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-23

... Lake, IL; Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc., Newberg, OR; Clockwork Solutions, Inc. (CSI), Austin, TX..., MA; University of Texas Austin, Austin, TX; Vista Controls, Inc., dba Curtiss-Wright Controls... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Antitrust Division Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and...

Reconfigurable Three-Dimensional Gold Nanorod Plasmonic Nanostructures Organized on DNA Origami Tripod.

PubMed

Zhan, Pengfei; Dutta, Palash K; Wang, Pengfei; Song, Gang; Dai, Mingjie; Zhao, Shu-Xia; Wang, Zhen-Gang; Yin, Peng; Zhang, Wei; Ding, Baoquan; Ke, Yonggang

2017-02-28

Distinct electromagnetic properties can emerge from the three-dimensional (3D) configuration of a plasmonic nanostructure. Furthermore, the reconfiguration of a dynamic plasmonic nanostructure, driven by physical or chemical stimuli, may generate a tailored plasmonic response. In this work, we constructed a 3D reconfigurable plasmonic nanostructure with controllable, reversible conformational transformation using bottom-up DNA self-assembly. Three gold nanorods (AuNRs) were positioned onto a reconfigurable DNA origami tripod. The internanorod angle and distance were precisely tuned through operating the origami tripod by toehold-mediated strand displacement. The transduction of conformational change manifested into a controlled shift of the plasmonic resonance peak, which was studied by dark-field microscopy, and agrees well with electrodynamic calculations. This new 3D plasmonic nanostructure not only provides a method to study the plasmonic resonance of AuNRs at prescribed 3D conformations but also demonstrates that DNA origami can serve as a general self-assembly platform for constructing various 3D reconfigurable plasmonic nanostructures with customized optical properties.

H2 Control of Natural T Regulatory Cell Frequency in the Lymph Node Correlates with Susceptibility to Day Three Thymectomy Induced Autoimmune Disease

PubMed Central

Rio, Roxana del; Sun, Yuefang; Alard, Pascale; Tung, Kenneth S.K.; Teuscher, Cory

2010-01-01

Day 3 thymectomy (D3Tx) results in a loss of peripheral tolerance mediated by natural T regulatory cells (nTR) and development of autoimmune ovarian dysgenesis (AOD) and dacryoadenitis (ADA) in A/J and (C57BL/6J × A/J) F1 hybrids (B6A) but not in C57BL/6J (B6) mice. Previously, using quantitative trait locus (QTL) linkage analysis, we showed that D3Tx-AOD is controlled by five unlinked QTL (Aod1-Aod5) and H2. In the present study, using D3Tx B6-ChrA/J/NaJ chromosome substitution strains, we confirm that QTL on chromosome (Chr) 16 (Aod1a/Aod1b), Chr3 (Aod2), Chr1 (Aod3), Chr2 (Aod4), Chr7 (Aod5), and Chr17 (H2) control D3Tx-AOD susceptibility. Additionally, we present the first data mapping QTL controlling D3Tx-ADA to Chr17 (Ada1/H2), Chr1 (Ada2), and Chr3 (Ada3). Importantly, B6-ChrXA/J mice were as resistant to D3Tx-AOD and D3Tx-ADA as B6 mice thereby excluding Foxp3 as a susceptibility gene in these models. Moreover, we report quantitative differences in the frequency of nTR cells in the lymph nodes (LNs), but not spleen or thymus, of AOD/ADA-resistant B6 and AOD/ADA-susceptible A/J, B6A, and B6-Chr17A/J mice. Similar results correlating with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and orchitis susceptibility were seen with B10.S and SJL/J mice. Using H2-congenic mice we show that the observed difference in frequency of LN nTR cells is controlled by H2. These data support the existence of a LN-specific, H2-controlled mechanism regulating the prevalence of nTR cells in autoimmune disease susceptibility. PMID:21135167

Multifunctional Material Systems for Reconfigurable Antennas in Superconfigurable Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-05

reconFig.d states of the antenna. A polarization-reconfigurable substrate-integrated waveguide ( SIW ) cavity-resonator slot antenna has also been...the automation and control. Fig. 36 Polarization-reconfigurable substrate-integrated waveguide ( SIW ) cavity-resonator slot antenna with a...22, 3833–3839, 2012. [3] Analysis of a Variable SIW Resonator Enabled by Dielectric Material Perturbations and Applications, Barrera, J.D. ; Huff

Alternative treatments for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

PubMed

Arnold, L E

2001-06-01

A previous review of alternative treatments (Tx) of ADHD--those other than psychoactive medication and behavioral/psychosocial Tx--was supplemented with an additional literature search focused on adults with ADHD. Twenty-four alternative Tx were identified, ranging in scientific documentation from discrediting controlled studies through mere hypotheses to positive controlled double-blind clinical trials. Many of them are applicable only to a specific subgroup. Although oligoantigenic (few-foods) diets have convincing double-blind evidence of efficacy for a properly selected subgroup of children, they do not appear promising for adults. Enzyme-potentiated desensitization, relaxation/EMG biofeedback, and deleading also have controlled evidence of efficacy. Iron supplementation, magnesium supplementation, Chinese herbals, EEG biofeedback, massage, meditation, mirror feedback, channel-specific perceptual training, and vestibular stimulation all have promising prospective pilot data, many of these tests reasonably controlled. Single-vitamin megadosage has some intriguing pilot trial data. Zinc supplementation is hypothetically supported by systematic case-control data, but no systematic clinical trial. Laser acupuncture has promising unpublished pilot data and may be more applicable to adults than children. Essential fatty acid supplementation has promising systematic case-control data, but clinical trials are equivocal. RDA vitamin supplementation, non-Chinese herbals, homeopathic remedies, and antifungal therapy have no systematic data in ADHD. Megadose multivitamin combinations are probably ineffective for most patients and are possibly dangerous. Simple sugar restriction seems ineffective. Amino acid supplementation is mildly effective in the short term, but not beyond 2-3 months. Thyroid treatment is effective in the presence of documented thyroid abnormality. Some alternative Tx of ADHD are effective or probably effective, but mainly for certain patients. In some cases, they are the Tx of choice, and initial evaluation should consider the relevant etiologies. A few have failed to prove effective in controlled trials. Most need research to determine whether they are effective and/or to define the applicable subgroup. Some of them, although not safer than standard Tx, may be preferable for an etiologic subgroup.

Maternal choline modifies fetal liver copper, gene expression, DNA methylation, and neonatal growth in the tx-j mouse model of Wilson disease.

PubMed

Medici, Valentina; Shibata, Noreene M; Kharbanda, Kusum K; Islam, Mohammad S; Keen, Carl L; Kim, Kyoungmi; Tillman, Brittany; French, Samuel W; Halsted, Charles H; LaSalle, Janine M

2014-02-01

Maternal diet can affect fetal gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Wilson disease (WD), which is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in ATP7B encoding a biliary copper transporter, is characterized by excessive hepatic copper accumulation, but variability in disease severity. We tested the hypothesis that gestational supply of dietary methyl groups modifies fetal DNA methylation and expression of genes involved in methionine and lipid metabolism that are impaired prior to hepatic steatosis in the toxic milk (tx-j) mouse model of WD. Female C3H control and tx-j mice were fed control (choline 8 mmol/Kg of diet) or choline-supplemented (choline 36 mmol/Kg of diet) diets for 2 weeks throughout mating and pregnancy to gestation day 17. A second group of C3H females, half of which were used to cross foster tx-j pups, received the same diet treatments that extended during lactation to 21 d postpartum. Compared with C3H, fetal tx-j livers had significantly lower copper concentrations and significantly lower transcript levels of Cyclin D1 and genes related to methionine and lipid metabolism. Maternal choline supplementation prevented the transcriptional deficits in fetal tx-j liver for multiple genes related to cell growth and metabolism. Global DNA methylation was increased by 17% in tx-j fetal livers after maternal choline treatment (P<0.05). Maternal dietary choline rescued the lower body weight of 21 d tx-j mice. Our results suggest that WD pathogenesis is modified by maternal in utero factors, including dietary choline.

Maternal choline modifies fetal liver copper, gene expression, DNA methylation, and neonatal growth in the tx-j mouse model of Wilson disease

PubMed Central

Medici, Valentina; Shibata, Noreene M; Kharbanda, Kusum K; Islam, Mohammad S; Keen, Carl L; Kim, Kyoungmi; Tillman, Brittany; French, Samuel W; Halsted, Charles H; LaSalle, Janine M

2014-01-01

Maternal diet can affect fetal gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Wilson disease (WD), which is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in ATP7B encoding a biliary copper transporter, is characterized by excessive hepatic copper accumulation, but variability in disease severity. We tested the hypothesis that gestational supply of dietary methyl groups modifies fetal DNA methylation and expression of genes involved in methionine and lipid metabolism that are impaired prior to hepatic steatosis in the toxic milk (tx-j) mouse model of WD. Female C3H control and tx-j mice were fed control (choline 8 mmol/Kg of diet) or choline-supplemented (choline 36 mmol/Kg of diet) diets for 2 weeks throughout mating and pregnancy to gestation day 17. A second group of C3H females, half of which were used to cross foster tx-j pups, received the same diet treatments that extended during lactation to 21 d postpartum. Compared with C3H, fetal tx-j livers had significantly lower copper concentrations and significantly lower transcript levels of Cyclin D1 and genes related to methionine and lipid metabolism. Maternal choline supplementation prevented the transcriptional deficits in fetal tx-j liver for multiple genes related to cell growth and metabolism. Global DNA methylation was increased by 17% in tx-j fetal livers after maternal choline treatment (P < 0.05). Maternal dietary choline rescued the lower body weight of 21 d tx-j mice. Our results suggest that WD pathogenesis is modified by maternal in utero factors, including dietary choline. PMID:24220304

Reconfigurability of behavioural specifications for manufacturing systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Klaus Werner

2017-12-01

Reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) support flexibility in the product variety and the configuration of the manufacturing system itself in order to enable quick adjustments to new products and production requirements. As a consequence, an essential feature of RMS is their ability to rapidly modify the control strategy during run-time. In this paper, the particular problem of changing the specified operation of a RMS, whose logical behaviour is modelled as a finite state automaton, is addressed. The notion of reconfigurability of specifications (RoS) is introduced and it is shown that the stated reconfiguration problem can be formulated as a controlled language convergence problem. In addition, algorithms for the verification of RoS and the construction of a reconfiguration supervisor are proposed. The supervisor is realised in a modular way which facilitates the extension by new configurations. Finally, it is shown that a supremal nonblocking and controllable strict subautomaton of the plant automaton that fulfils RoS exists in case RoS is violated for the plant automaton itself and an algorithm for the computation of this strict subautomaton is presented. The developed concepts and results are illustrated by a manufacturing cell example.

Optimal spacecraft formation establishment and reconfiguration propelled by the geomagnetic Lorentz force

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Xu; Yan, Ye; Zhou, Yang

2014-12-01

The Lorentz force acting on an electrostatically charged spacecraft as it moves through the planetary magnetic field could be utilized as propellantless electromagnetic propulsion for orbital maneuvering, such as spacecraft formation establishment and formation reconfiguration. By assuming that the Earth's magnetic field could be modeled as a tilted dipole located at the center of Earth that corotates with Earth, a dynamical model that describes the relative orbital motion of Lorentz spacecraft is developed. Based on the proposed dynamical model, the energy-optimal open-loop trajectories of control inputs, namely, the required specific charges of Lorentz spacecraft, for Lorentz-propelled spacecraft formation establishment or reconfiguration problems with both fixed and free final conditions constraints are derived via Gauss pseudospectral method. The effect of the magnetic dipole tilt angle on the optimal control inputs and the relative transfer trajectories for formation establishment or reconfiguration is also investigated by comparisons with the results derived from a nontilted dipole model. Furthermore, a closed-loop integral sliding mode controller is designed to guarantee the trajectory tracking in the presence of external disturbances and modeling errors. The stability of the closed-loop system is proved by a Lyapunov-based approach. Numerical simulations are presented to verify the validity of the proposed open-loop control methods and demonstrate the performance of the closed-loop controller. Also, the results indicate the dipole tilt angle should be considered when designing control strategies for Lorentz-propelled spacecraft formation establishment or reconfiguration.

Towards an optimal therapy strategy for myogenous TMD, physiotherapy compared with occlusal splint therapy in an RCT with therapy-and-patient-specific treatment durations.

PubMed

van Grootel, Robert J; Buchner, Rob; Wismeijer, Daniël; van der Glas, Hilbert W

2017-02-10

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) may be characterized by pain and restricted jaw movements. In the absence of somatic factors in the temporomandibular joint, mainly myogenous, psychobiological, and psychosocial factors may be involved in the aetiology of myogenous TMD. An occlusal appliance (splint) is commonly used as a basic therapy of the dental practice. Alternatively, a type of physiotherapy which includes, apart from massage of sore muscles, aspects of cognitive-behavioural therapy might be a basic therapy for myogenous TMD. Treatment outcome of physiotherapy (Ph-Tx) was evaluated in comparison to that of splint therapy (Sp-Tx), using the index Treatment Duration Control (TDC) that enabled a randomized controlled trial with, comparable to clinical care, therapy-and-patient-specific treatment durations. Seventy-two patients were randomly assigned to either Ph-Tx or Sp-Tx, with an intended treatment duration between 10 and 21 or 12 and 30 weeks respectively. Using TDC, the clinician controlled treatment duration and the number of visits needed. A blinded assessor recorded anamnestic and clinical data to determine TDC-values following treatment and a 1-year follow-up, yielding success rate (SR) and effectiveness (mean TDC) as treatment outcomes. Cohen's d, was determined for pain intensity. Overall SR for stepped-care was assessed in a theoretical model, i.e. a second of the two studied therapies was applied if the first treatment was unsuccessful, and the effect of therapy sequence and difference in success rates was examined. SR and effectiveness were similar for Ph-Tx and Sp-Tx (long-term SR: 51-60%; TDC: -0.512- -0.575). Cohen's d was 0.86 (Ph-Tx) and 1.39 (Sp-Tx). Treatment duration was shorter for Ph-Tx (on average 10.4 weeks less; p < 0.001). Sp-Tx needed 7.1 less visits (p < 0.001). Physiotherapy may be preferred as initial therapy over occlusal splint therapy in stepped-care of myogenous TMD. With a similar SR and effectiveness, physiotherapy has a shorter duration. Thus patients whose initial physiotherapy is unsuccessful can continue earlier with subsequent treatment. The stepped-care model reinforces the conclusion on therapy preference as the overall SR hardly depends on therapy sequence. isrctn.com/ISRCTN17469828 . Retrospectively registered: 11/11/2016.

Lunar Applications in Reconfigurable Computing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Somervill, Kevin

2008-01-01

NASA s Constellation Program is developing a lunar surface outpost in which reconfigurable computing will play a significant role. Reconfigurable systems provide a number of benefits over conventional software-based implementations including performance and power efficiency, while the use of standardized reconfigurable hardware provides opportunities to reduce logistical overhead. The current vision for the lunar surface architecture includes habitation, mobility, and communications systems, each of which greatly benefit from reconfigurable hardware in applications including video processing, natural feature recognition, data formatting, IP offload processing, and embedded control systems. In deploying reprogrammable hardware, considerations similar to those of software systems must be managed. There needs to be a mechanism for discovery enabling applications to locate and utilize the available resources. Also, application interfaces are needed to provide for both configuring the resources as well as transferring data between the application and the reconfigurable hardware. Each of these topics are explored in the context of deploying reconfigurable resources as an integral aspect of the lunar exploration architecture.

Establishment and Discontinuance Criteria for Airport Traffic Control Towers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-08-01

AR ASW 1 0.74 0.70 -539. HOT MINOT ND AOL 1 0.74 0.72 -509. LRD LAREDO TX ASW 1 0.76 0.72 -492. TXK TEXARKANA AR ASW 1 0.91 0.74 -462. FCN FRESNO CA...SFZ SMITHFIELD RI ANE 0 0.44 0.28 -2270. $IV AURORA CO ANN 0 0.40 0.25 -2387. ORO DURANGO CO ANN 0 0.49 0.43 -1791. 48V ERIE CO ANN 0 0.51 0.36 - 2017 ... 2017 . F70 FORT WORTH TX ASH 0 0.62 0.46 -1713. GLS GALVESTON TX ASW 0 0.83 0.69 -988. F67 GRAND PRAIRIE TX ASH 0 0.75 0.55 -1434. "Do HONDO TX ASW 0 1.77

Distributed reconfigurable control strategies for switching topology networked multi-agent systems.

PubMed

Gallehdari, Z; Meskin, N; Khorasani, K

2017-11-01

In this paper, distributed control reconfiguration strategies for directed switching topology networked multi-agent systems are developed and investigated. The proposed control strategies are invoked when the agents are subject to actuator faults and while the available fault detection and isolation (FDI) modules provide inaccurate and unreliable information on the estimation of faults severities. Our proposed strategies will ensure that the agents reach a consensus while an upper bound on the team performance index is ensured and satisfied. Three types of actuator faults are considered, namely: the loss of effectiveness fault, the outage fault, and the stuck fault. By utilizing quadratic and convex hull (composite) Lyapunov functions, two cooperative and distributed recovery strategies are designed and provided to select the gains of the proposed control laws such that the team objectives are guaranteed. Our proposed reconfigurable control laws are applied to a team of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) under directed switching topologies and subject to simultaneous actuator faults. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed distributed reconfiguration control laws in compensating for the effects of sudden actuator faults and subject to fault diagnosis module uncertainties and unreliabilities. Copyright © 2017 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reconfigurable Software for Controlling Formation Flying

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mueller, Joseph B.

2006-01-01

Software for a system to control the trajectories of multiple spacecraft flying in formation is being developed to reflect underlying concepts of (1) a decentralized approach to guidance and control and (2) reconfigurability of the control system, including reconfigurability of the software and of control laws. The software is organized as a modular network of software tasks. The computational load for both determining relative trajectories and planning maneuvers is shared equally among all spacecraft in a cluster. The flexibility and robustness of the software are apparent in the fact that tasks can be added, removed, or replaced during flight. In a computational simulation of a representative formation-flying scenario, it was demonstrated that the following are among the services performed by the software: Uploading of commands from a ground station and distribution of the commands among the spacecraft, Autonomous initiation and reconfiguration of formations, Autonomous formation of teams through negotiations among the spacecraft, Working out details of high-level commands (e.g., shapes and sizes of geometrically complex formations), Implementation of a distributed guidance law providing autonomous optimization and assignment of target states, and Implementation of a decentralized, fuel-optimal, impulsive control law for planning maneuvers.

Decentralized Sliding Mode Observer Based Dual Closed-Loop Fault Tolerant Control for Reconfigurable Manipulator against Actuator Failure.

PubMed

Zhao, Bo; Li, Chenghao; Liu, Derong; Li, Yuanchun

2015-01-01

This paper considers a decentralized fault tolerant control (DFTC) scheme for reconfigurable manipulators. With the appearance of norm-bounded failure, a dual closed-loop trajectory tracking control algorithm is proposed on the basis of the Lyapunov stability theory. Characterized by the modularization property, the actuator failure is estimated by the proposed decentralized sliding mode observer (DSMO). Moreover, the actuator failure can be treated in view of the local joint information, so its control performance degradation is independent of other normal joints. In addition, the presented DFTC scheme is significantly simplified in terms of the structure of the controller due to its dual closed-loop architecture, and its feasibility is highly reflected in the control of reconfigurable manipulators. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed DFTC scheme is demonstrated using simulations.

Decentralized Sliding Mode Observer Based Dual Closed-Loop Fault Tolerant Control for Reconfigurable Manipulator against Actuator Failure

PubMed Central

Zhao, Bo; Li, Yuanchun

2015-01-01

This paper considers a decentralized fault tolerant control (DFTC) scheme for reconfigurable manipulators. With the appearance of norm-bounded failure, a dual closed-loop trajectory tracking control algorithm is proposed on the basis of the Lyapunov stability theory. Characterized by the modularization property, the actuator failure is estimated by the proposed decentralized sliding mode observer (DSMO). Moreover, the actuator failure can be treated in view of the local joint information, so its control performance degradation is independent of other normal joints. In addition, the presented DFTC scheme is significantly simplified in terms of the structure of the controller due to its dual closed-loop architecture, and its feasibility is highly reflected in the control of reconfigurable manipulators. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed DFTC scheme is demonstrated using simulations. PMID:26181826

Analytical solutions to optimal underactuated spacecraft formation reconfiguration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Xu; Yan, Ye; Zhou, Yang

2015-11-01

Underactuated systems can generally be defined as systems with fewer number of control inputs than that of the degrees of freedom to be controlled. In this paper, analytical solutions to optimal underactuated spacecraft formation reconfiguration without either the radial or the in-track control are derived. By using a linear dynamical model of underactuated spacecraft formation in circular orbits, controllability analysis is conducted for either underactuated case. Indirect optimization methods based on the minimum principle are then introduced to generate analytical solutions to optimal open-loop underactuated reconfiguration problems. Both fixed and free final conditions constraints are considered for either underactuated case and comparisons between these two final conditions indicate that the optimal control strategies with free final conditions require less control efforts than those with the fixed ones. Meanwhile, closed-loop adaptive sliding mode controllers for both underactuated cases are designed to guarantee optimal trajectory tracking in the presence of unmatched external perturbations, linearization errors, and system uncertainties. The adaptation laws are designed via a Lyapunov-based method to ensure the overall stability of the closed-loop system. The explicit expressions of the terminal convergent regions of each system states have also been obtained. Numerical simulations demonstrate the validity and feasibility of the proposed open-loop and closed-loop control schemes for optimal underactuated spacecraft formation reconfiguration in circular orbits.

A fully reconfigurable photonic integrated signal processor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Weilin; Li, Ming; Guzzon, Robert S.; Norberg, Erik J.; Parker, John S.; Lu, Mingzhi; Coldren, Larry A.; Yao, Jianping

2016-03-01

Photonic signal processing has been considered a solution to overcome the inherent electronic speed limitations. Over the past few years, an impressive range of photonic integrated signal processors have been proposed, but they usually offer limited reconfigurability, a feature highly needed for the implementation of large-scale general-purpose photonic signal processors. Here, we report and experimentally demonstrate a fully reconfigurable photonic integrated signal processor based on an InP-InGaAsP material system. The proposed photonic signal processor is capable of performing reconfigurable signal processing functions including temporal integration, temporal differentiation and Hilbert transformation. The reconfigurability is achieved by controlling the injection currents to the active components of the signal processor. Our demonstration suggests great potential for chip-scale fully programmable all-optical signal processing.

Hardware support for software controlled fast reconfiguration of performance counters

DOEpatents

Salapura, Valentina; Wisniewski, Robert W.

2013-06-18

Hardware support for software controlled reconfiguration of performance counters may include a plurality of performance counters collecting one or more counts of one or more selected activities. A storage element stores data value representing a time interval, and a timer element reads the data value and detects expiration of the time interval based on the data value and generates a signal. A plurality of configuration registers stores a set of performance counter configurations. A state machine receives the signal and selects a configuration register from the plurality of configuration registers for reconfiguring the one or more performance counters.

Hardware support for software controlled fast reconfiguration of performance counters

DOEpatents

Salapura, Valentina; Wisniewski, Robert W

2013-09-24

Hardware support for software controlled reconfiguration of performance counters may include a plurality of performance counters collecting one or more counts of one or more selected activities. A storage element stores data value representing a time interval, and a timer element reads the data value and detects expiration of the time interval based on the data value and generates a signal. A plurality of configuration registers stores a set of performance counter configurations. A state machine receives the signal and selects a configuration register from the plurality of configuration registers for reconfiguring the one or more performance counters.

Optically reconfigurable patterning for control of the propagation characteristics of a planar waveguide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Y.; Klittnick, A.; Clark, N. A.; Keller, P.

2008-10-01

We demonstrate an easily fabricated all-optical and freely reconfigurable method of controlling the propagating characteristics of the optic path within a planar waveguide with low insertion losses by employing the optical patterning of the refractive index of an erasable and rewriteable photosensitive liquid crystal polymer cladding layer.

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of Ti3C2Tx with hydrothermal process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Libo; Zhang, Heng; Wang, Bo; Shen, Changjie; Zhang, Chuanxiang; Hu, Qianku; Zhou, Aiguo; Liu, Baozhong

2016-09-01

In this study, a simple hydrothermal method has been developed to prepare Ti3C2Tx from Ti3AlC2 as a high-performance electrode material for supercapacitors. This method is environmentally friendly and has a low level of danger. The morphology and structure of the Ti3C2Tx can be controlled by hydrothermal reaction time, temperature and NH4F amounts. The prepared Ti3C2Tx was characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller. The results show that the prepared Ti3C2Tx is terminated by O, OH, and F groups. The electrochemical properties of the Ti3C2Tx sample exhibit specific capacitance up to 141 Fcm-3 in 3 M KOH aqueous electrolyte, and even after 1000 cycles, no significant degradation of the volumetric capacitance was observed. These results indicate that the Ti3C2Tx material prepared by this hydrothermal method can be used in high performance supercapacitors.

Simultaneous control of magnetic topologies for reconfigurable vortex arrays

DOE PAGES

Im, Mi-Young; Fischer, Peter; Han, Hee-Sung; ...

2017-02-10

The topological spin textures in magnetic vortices in confined magnetic elements offer a platform for understanding the fundamental physics of nanoscale spin behavior and the potential of harnessing their unique spin structures for advanced magnetic technologies. For magnetic vortices to be practical, an effective reconfigurability of the two topologies of magnetic vortices, that is, the circularity and the polarity, is an essential prerequisite. The reconfiguration issue is highly relevant to the question of whether both circularity and polarity are reliably and efficiently controllable. In this work, we report the first direct observation of simultaneous control of both circularity and polaritymore » by the sole application of an in-plane magnetic field to arrays of asymmetrically shaped permalloy disks. Our investigation demonstrates that a high degree of reliability for control of both topologies can be achieved by tailoring the geometry of the disk arrays. We also propose a new approach to control the vortex structures by manipulating the effect of the stray field on the dynamics of vortex creation. The current study is expected to facilitate complete and effective reconfiguration of magnetic vortex structures, thereby enhancing the prospects for technological applications of magnetic vortices.« less

Simultaneous control of magnetic topologies for reconfigurable vortex arrays

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

Im, Mi-Young; Fischer, Peter; Han, Hee-Sung

The topological spin textures in magnetic vortices in confined magnetic elements offer a platform for understanding the fundamental physics of nanoscale spin behavior and the potential of harnessing their unique spin structures for advanced magnetic technologies. For magnetic vortices to be practical, an effective reconfigurability of the two topologies of magnetic vortices, that is, the circularity and the polarity, is an essential prerequisite. The reconfiguration issue is highly relevant to the question of whether both circularity and polarity are reliably and efficiently controllable. In this work, we report the first direct observation of simultaneous control of both circularity and polaritymore » by the sole application of an in-plane magnetic field to arrays of asymmetrically shaped permalloy disks. Our investigation demonstrates that a high degree of reliability for control of both topologies can be achieved by tailoring the geometry of the disk arrays. We also propose a new approach to control the vortex structures by manipulating the effect of the stray field on the dynamics of vortex creation. The current study is expected to facilitate complete and effective reconfiguration of magnetic vortex structures, thereby enhancing the prospects for technological applications of magnetic vortices.« less

Operating guidelines for TxDOT ramp control signals.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) currently maintains a Traffic Signals Manual. : Originally published in 1999, this manual provides a guide and reference for handling requests : for traffic signals on the designated State Highway System...

A hierarchical scheduling and management solution for dynamic reconfiguration in FPGA-based embedded systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cervero, T.; Gómez, A.; López, S.; Sarmiento, R.; Dondo, J.; Rincón, F.; López, J. C.

2013-05-01

One of the limiting factors that have prevented a widely dissemination of the reconfigurable technology is the absence of an appropriate model for certain target applications capable of offering a reliable control. Moreover, the lack of flexible and easy-to-use scheduling and management systems are also relevant drawbacks to be considered. Under static scenarios, it is relatively easy to schedule and manage the reconfiguration process since all the variations corresponding to predetermined and well-known tasks. However, the difficulty increases when the adaptation needs of the overall system change semi-randomly according to the environmental fluctuations. In this context, this work proposes a change in the paradigm of dynamically reconfigurable systems, by attending to the dynamically reconfigurable control problematic as a whole, in which the scheduling and the placement issues are packed together as a hierarchical management structure, interacting together as one entity from the system point of view, but performing their tasks with certain degree of independence each other. In this sense, the top hierarchical level corresponds with a dynamic scheduler in charge of planning and adjusting all the reconfigurable modules according to the variations of the external stimulus. The lower level interacts with the physical layer of the device by means of instantiating, relocating, removing a reconfigurable module following the scheduler's instructions. In regards to how fast is the proposed solution, the total partial reconfiguration time achieved with this proposal has been measured and compared with other two approaches: 1) using traditional Xilinx's tools; 2) using an optimized version of the Xilinx's drivers. The collected numbers demonstrate that our solution reaches a gain up to 10 times faster than the other approaches.

78 FR 48842 - Proposed Establishment of Class D Airspace; Mesquite, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-12

...: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Class D airspace at Mesquite, TX. Establishment of an air traffic control tower at Mesquite Metro Airport [[Page 48843

All optical reconfiguration of optomechanical filters.

PubMed

Deotare, Parag B; Bulu, Irfan; Frank, Ian W; Quan, Qimin; Zhang, Yinan; Ilic, Rob; Loncar, Marko

2012-05-22

Reconfigurable optical filters are of great importance for applications in optical communication and information processing. Of particular interest are tuning techniques that take advantage of mechanical deformation of the devices, as they offer wider tuning range. Here we demonstrate reconfiguration of coupled photonic crystal nanobeam cavities by using optical gradient force induced mechanical actuation. Propagating waveguide modes that exist over a wide wavelength range are used to actuate the structures and control the resonance of localized cavity modes. Using this all-optical approach, more than 18 linewidths of tuning range is demonstrated. Using an on-chip temperature self-referencing method, we determine that 20% of the total tuning was due to optomechanical reconfiguration and the rest due to thermo-optic effects. By operating the device at frequencies higher than the thermal cutoff, we show high-speed operation dominated by just optomechanical effects. Independent control of mechanical and optical resonances of our structures is also demonstrated.

Reconfigurable origami-inspired acoustic waveguides

PubMed Central

Babaee, Sahab; Overvelde, Johannes T. B.; Chen, Elizabeth R.; Tournat, Vincent; Bertoldi, Katia

2016-01-01

We combine numerical simulations and experiments to design a new class of reconfigurable waveguides based on three-dimensional origami-inspired metamaterials. Our strategy builds on the fact that the rigid plates and hinges forming these structures define networks of tubes that can be easily reconfigured. As such, they provide an ideal platform to actively control and redirect the propagation of sound. We design reconfigurable systems that, depending on the externally applied deformation, can act as networks of waveguides oriented along one, two, or three preferential directions. Moreover, we demonstrate that the capability of the structure to guide and radiate acoustic energy along predefined directions can be easily switched on and off, as the networks of tubes are reversibly formed and disrupted. The proposed designs expand the ability of existing acoustic metamaterials and exploit complex waveguiding to enhance control over propagation and radiation of acoustic energy, opening avenues for the design of a new class of tunable acoustic functional systems. PMID:28138527

Tick infestations in extensively grazed cattle and efficacy trial of high-cis cypermethrin pour-on preparation for control of ticks in Mvomero district in Tanzania.

PubMed

Hezron E, Nonga; Adrian, Muwonge; Robinson H, Mdegela

2012-11-19

This study aimed at determining the extent of tick infestations in extensively grazed cattle and assess the efficacy of Ecotix® acaricide (2.5% high cis cypermethrin) in Mvomero district in Tanzania. A total of 1200 Tanzanian short horn Zebu (TSHZ) from two farms in two villages were qualitatively assessed for tick infestations and 40 animals (grouped in 10s from each farm) were separated in their herds and quantitatively examined to establish the tick load. The animals were grouped in treatment regime groups (TxRG 1, 2, 3, and 4), TxRG 1 being the control group was treated with water. Ecotix® was applied on day 0 for TxRG 2, days 0 and 7 for TxRG 3 and days 0, 7 and 14 for TxRG 4 and tick load was monitored for 28 days. All the animals examined were infested with ticks. The identified ticks were Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (55%), Amblyomma variegatum (18%), R. (Boophilus) microplus (12.9%), R. (B) decoloratus (7.1%), R. evertsi evertsi (4.4%) and R. composites (2.6%). The overall mean (mean±SEM) tick density on day zero was 63±30 ticks per animal (ranging from 20-160). The mean tick density on day zero was 44.6±25.4, 74.6±30.3, 55.0±26.2 and 77±33.5 for groups one, two, three and four respectively. Post-treatment quantitative assessment of tick burden revealed that the TxRG 1 animals maintained a tick load throughout the study period. A significant decrease in tick load in animals in groups TxRG 2, 3 and 4 (P=0.0001) with increasing frequency of Ecotix® application was recorded. There was however no significant difference in tick reduction between TxRG 3 and 4 (P=0.0986). Thus TxRG 3 would be sufficient for the monthly tick treatment and with this regime, the farmer would save up to 2.5 USD per animal during six months of dry season. The study revealed a high tick infestation among the TSHZ kept in extensive grazing systems in Mvomero district and that when treated with Ecotix® as pour-on preparation using a two application regime per month, the tick control strategy was effective.

Electromagnetic energy coupling mechanism with matrix architecture control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hughes, Eli (Inventor); Knowles, Gareth (Inventor)

2006-01-01

The present invention relates generally to reconfigurable, solid-state matrix arrays comprising multiple rows and columns of reconfigurable secondary mechanisms that are independently tuned. Specifically, the invention relates to reconfigurable devices comprising multiple, solid-state mechanisms characterized by at least one voltage-varied parameter disposed within a flexible, multi-laminate film, which are suitable for use as magnetic conductors, ground surfaces, antennas, varactors, ferrotunable substrates, or other active or passive electronic mechanisms.

Behavioral study and design of a digital interpolator filter for wireless reconfigurable transmitters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferragina, V.; Frassone, A.; Ghittori, N.; Malcovati, P.; Vigna, A.

2005-06-01

The behavioral analysis and the design in a 0.13 μm CMOS technology of a digital interpolator filter for wireless applications are presented. The proposed block is designed to be embedded in the baseband part of a reconfigurable transmitter (WLAN 802.11a, UMTS) to operate as a sampling frequency boost between the digital signal processor (DSP) and the digital-to-analog converter (DAC). In recent trends the DAC of such transmitters usually operates at high conversion frequencies (to allow a relaxed implementation of the following analog reconstruction filter), while the DSP output flows at low frequencies (typically Nyquist rate). Thus a block able to increase the digital data rate, like the one proposed, is needed before the DAC. For example, in the WLAN case, an interpolation factor of 4 has been used, allowing the digital data frequency to raise from 20 MHz to 80 MHz. Using a time-domain model of the TX chain, a behavioral analysis has been performed to determine the impact of the filter performance on the quality of the signal at the antenna. This study has led to the evaluation of the z-domain filter transfer function, together with the specifications concerning a finite precision implementation. A VHDL description has allowed an automatic synthesis of the circuit in a 0.13 μm CMOS technology (with a supply voltage of 1.2 V). Post-synthesis simulations have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed study.

Reconfigurable Flight Control Design using a Robust Servo LQR and Radial Basis Function Neural Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burken, John J.

2005-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews the use of a Robust Servo Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and a Radial Basis Function (RBF) Neural Network in reconfigurable flight control designs in adaptation to a aircraft part failure. The method uses a robust LQR servomechanism design with model Reference adaptive control, and RBF neural networks. During the failure the LQR servomechanism behaved well, and using the neural networks improved the tracking.

L-Dopa effect on frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex in adult rats with complete spinal cord transection.

PubMed

Liu, Hao; Skinner, Robert D; Arfaj, Ahmad; Yates, Charlotte; Reese, Nancy B; Williams, Keith; Garcia-Rill, Edgar

2010-10-30

This study investigated whether l-dopa (DOPA), locomotor-like passive exercise (Ex) using a motorized bicycle exercise trainer (MBET), or their combination in adult rats with complete spinal cord transection (Tx) preserves and restores low frequency-dependent depression (FDD) of the H-reflex. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats (n=56) transected at T8-9 had one of five treatments beginning 7 days after transection: Tx (transection only), Tx+Ex, Tx+DOPA, Tx+Ex+DOPA, and control (Ctl, no treatment) groups. After 30 days of treatment, FDD of the H-reflex was tested. Stimulation of the tibial nerve at 0.2, 1, 5, and 10Hz evoked an H-reflex that was recorded from plantar muscles of the hind paw. No significant differences were found at the stimulation rate of 1Hz. However, at 5Hz, FDD of the H-reflex in the Tx+Ex, Tx+DOPA and Ctl groups was significantly different from the Tx group (p<0.01). At 10Hz, all of the treatment groups were significantly different from the Tx group (p<0.01). No significant difference was identified between the Ctl and any of the treatment groups. These results suggest that DOPA significantly preserved and restored FDD after transection as effectively as exercise alone or exercise in combination with DOPA. Thus, there was no additive benefit when DOPA was combined with exercise. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sugarcane Aphid Population Growth, Plant Injury, and Natural Enemies on Selected Grain Sorghum Hybrids in Texas and Louisiana.

PubMed

Brewer, Michael J; Gordy, John W; Kerns, David L; Woolley, James B; Rooney, William L; Bowling, Robert D

2017-10-01

In response to the 2013 outbreak of sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.), in North America, experiments were conducted at three southern U.S. grain sorghum production locations (Corpus Christi, TX; Winnsboro, LA; Rosenberg, TX). The objectives were to authenticate yield decline on susceptible hybrids (2014 and 2015) and to measure aphid population growth and natural enemy prevalence on susceptible and resistant hybrids with similar genetic background (2014). Yield decline on susceptible hybrids (Tx 2752/Tx430 and DKS53-67) was more substantial when aphid population growth accelerated quickly and peaked above 300 aphids per leaf (50 to nearly 100% yield decline). Location and year variation in maximum aphid density and cumulative aphid-days was high, with doubling time values on the susceptible hybrids ranging between 3.9 and 7.9 d. On resistant Tx2752/Tx2783, leaf injury and yield decline were not seen or less severe than on its paired susceptible Tx2752/Tx430. Aphids declined on Tx2752/Tx2783 after initial colony establishment (Corpus Christi) or took about 60% longer to double in population size when compared with Tx2572/Tx430 (Winnsboro). The predominant natural enemy taxa were aphelinid mummies (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and sryphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), and they were more prevalent during flowering than prior to flowering. They were generally responsive to changes in aphid density of both susceptible and resistant hybrids, but variability points to need for further study. In future research, full season observations should continue as well as more detailed study of potential compatibility of sorghum resistance and biological control. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Dynamic reconfiguration of frontal brain networks during executive cognition in humans

PubMed Central

Braun, Urs; Schäfer, Axel; Walter, Henrik; Erk, Susanne; Romanczuk-Seiferth, Nina; Haddad, Leila; Schweiger, Janina I.; Grimm, Oliver; Heinz, Andreas; Tost, Heike; Meyer-Lindenberg, Andreas; Bassett, Danielle S.

2015-01-01

The brain is an inherently dynamic system, and executive cognition requires dynamically reconfiguring, highly evolving networks of brain regions that interact in complex and transient communication patterns. However, a precise characterization of these reconfiguration processes during cognitive function in humans remains elusive. Here, we use a series of techniques developed in the field of “dynamic network neuroscience” to investigate the dynamics of functional brain networks in 344 healthy subjects during a working-memory challenge (the “n-back” task). In contrast to a control condition, in which dynamic changes in cortical networks were spread evenly across systems, the effortful working-memory condition was characterized by a reconfiguration of frontoparietal and frontotemporal networks. This reconfiguration, which characterizes “network flexibility,” employs transient and heterogeneous connectivity between frontal systems, which we refer to as “integration.” Frontal integration predicted neuropsychological measures requiring working memory and executive cognition, suggesting that dynamic network reconfiguration between frontal systems supports those functions. Our results characterize dynamic reconfiguration of large-scale distributed neural circuits during executive cognition in humans and have implications for understanding impaired cognitive function in disorders affecting connectivity, such as schizophrenia or dementia. PMID:26324898

Failure detection and identification for a reconfigurable flight control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dallery, Francois

1987-01-01

Failure detection and identification logic for a fault-tolerant longitudinal control system were investigated. Aircraft dynamics were based upon the cruise condition for a hypothetical transonic business jet transport configuration. The fault-tolerant control system consists of conventional control and estimation plus a new outer loop containing failure detection, identification, and reconfiguration (FDIR) logic. It is assumed that the additional logic has access to all measurements, as well as to the outputs of the control and estimation logic. The pilot may also command the FDIR logic to perform special tests.

SDN-controlled topology-reconfigurable optical mobile fronthaul architecture for bidirectional CoMP and low latency inter-cell D2D in the 5G mobile era.

PubMed

Cvijetic, Neda; Tanaka, Akihiro; Kanonakis, Konstantinos; Wang, Ting

2014-08-25

We demonstrate the first SDN-controlled optical topology-reconfigurable mobile fronthaul (MFH) architecture for bidirectional coordinated multipoint (CoMP) and low latency inter-cell device-to-device (D2D) connectivity in the 5G mobile networking era. SDN-based OpenFlow control is used to dynamically instantiate the CoMP and inter-cell D2D features as match/action combinations in control plane flow tables of software-defined optical and electrical switching elements. Dynamic re-configurability is thereby introduced into the optical MFH topology, while maintaining back-compatibility with legacy fiber deployments. 10 Gb/s peak rates with <7 μs back-to-back transmission latency and 29.6 dB total power budget are experimentally demonstrated, confirming the attractiveness of the new approach for optical MFH of future 5G mobile systems.

77 FR 66068 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Breckenridge, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-01

...) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Stephens County Airport. The airport's geographic coordinates... controlled airspace at Stephens County Airport (77 FR 50648) Docket No. FAA-2012-0653. Interested parties... instrument approach procedures at Stephens County Airport, Breckenridge, TX. This action is necessary for the...

Characterization of in-use emissions from TxDOT's non-road equipment fleet : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-08-01

The objective of this document is to present the findings of the study characterizing in-use emissions of TxDOT's non-road diesel equipment. This document presents literature reviews of emission reduction technologies and emission control measures pr...

A Switchable Magnetic Low-Index Metamaterial for Use in a Dynamically Reconfigurable Beam-Scanning Lens Antenna with a Single Feed

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

reconfigurable volumetric metamaterial, since the control circuits cannot be simply hidden behind a ground plane, as for a reconfigurable metasurface or...dielectric metasurfaces ," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 1910-1920, Apr. 2012. [11] D.-H. Kwon and D. H. Werner...M. Sorolla, "Babinet principle applied to the design of metasurfaces and metamaterials," Physical Review Letters, vol. 93, no. 19, pp. 197401/1-4

Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein Deficiency Protects against Diabetic Nephropathy.

PubMed

Shah, Anu; Xia, Ling; Masson, Elodie A Y; Gui, Chloe; Momen, Abdul; Shikatani, Eric A; Husain, Mansoor; Quaggin, Susan; John, Rohan; Fantus, I G

2015-12-01

Expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TxNIP), an endogenous inhibitor of the thiol oxidoreductase thioredoxin, is augmented by high glucose (HG) and promotes oxidative stress. We previously reported that TxNIP-deficient mesangial cells showed protection from HG-induced reactive oxygen species, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, and collagen expression. Here, we investigated the potential role of TxNIP in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in vivo. Wild-type (WT) control, TxNIP(-/-), and TxNIP(+/-) mice were rendered equally diabetic with low-dose streptozotocin. In contrast to effects in WT mice, diabetes did not increase albuminuria, proteinuria, serum cystatin C, or serum creatinine levels in TxNIP(-/-) mice. Whereas morphometric studies of kidneys revealed a thickened glomerular basement membrane and effaced podocytes in the diabetic WT mice, these changes were absent in the diabetic TxNIP(-/-) mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant increases in the levels of glomerular TGF-β1, collagen IV, and fibrosis only in WT diabetic mice. Additionally, only WT diabetic mice showed significant increases in oxidative stress (nitrotyrosine, urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy-guanosine) and inflammation (IL-1β mRNA, F4/80 immunohistochemistry). Expression levels of Nox4-encoded mRNA and protein increased only in the diabetic WT animals. A significant loss of podocytes, assessed by Wilms' tumor 1 and nephrin staining and urinary nephrin concentration, was found in diabetic WT but not TxNIP(-/-) mice. Furthermore, in cultured human podocytes exposed to HG, TxNIP knockdown with siRNA abolished the increased mitochondrial O2 (-) generation and apoptosis. These data indicate that TxNIP has a critical role in the progression of DN and may be a promising therapeutic target. Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Nephrology.

A dynamically reconfigurable multi-functional PLL for SRAM-based FPGA in 65nm CMOS technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Mingqian; Chen, Lei; Li, Xuewu; Zhang, Yanlong

2018-04-01

Phase-locked loops (PLL) have been widely utilized in FPGA as an important module for clock management. PLL with dynamic reconfiguration capability is always welcomed in FPGA design as it is able to decrease power consumption and simultaneously improve flexibility. In this paper, a multi-functional PLL with dynamic reconfiguration capability for 65nm SRAM-based FPGA is proposed. Firstly, configurable charge pump and loop filter are utilized to optimize the loop bandwidth. Secondly, the PLL incorporates a VCO with dual control voltages to accelerate the adjustment of oscillation frequency. Thirdly, three configurable dividers are presented for flexible frequency synthesis. Lastly, a configuration block with dynamic reconfiguration function is proposed. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed multi-functional PLL can output clocks with configurable division ratio, phase shift and duty cycle. The PLL can also be dynamically reconfigured without affecting other parts' running or halting the FPGA device.

Multinode reconfigurable pipeline computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nosenchuck, Daniel M. (Inventor); Littman, Michael G. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A multinode parallel-processing computer is made up of a plurality of innerconnected, large capacity nodes each including a reconfigurable pipeline of functional units such as Integer Arithmetic Logic Processors, Floating Point Arithmetic Processors, Special Purpose Processors, etc. The reconfigurable pipeline of each node is connected to a multiplane memory by a Memory-ALU switch NETwork (MASNET). The reconfigurable pipeline includes three (3) basic substructures formed from functional units which have been found to be sufficient to perform the bulk of all calculations. The MASNET controls the flow of signals from the memory planes to the reconfigurable pipeline and vice versa. the nodes are connectable together by an internode data router (hyperspace router) so as to form a hypercube configuration. The capability of the nodes to conditionally configure the pipeline at each tick of the clock, without requiring a pipeline flush, permits many powerful algorithms to be implemented directly.

Antisense Morpholino Oligonucleotides Reduce Neurofilament Synthesis and Inhibit Axon Regeneration in Lamprey Reticulospinal Neurons.

PubMed

Zhang, Guixin; Jin, Li-qing; Hu, Jianli; Rodemer, William; Selzer, Michael E

2015-01-01

The sea lamprey has been used as a model for the study of axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. Previous studies have suggested that, unlike developing axons in mammal, the tips of regenerating axons in lamprey spinal cord are simple in shape, packed with neurofilaments (NFs), and contain very little F-actin. Thus it has been proposed that regeneration of axons in the central nervous system of mature vertebrates is not based on the canonical actin-dependent pulling mechanism of growth cones, but involves an internal protrusive force, perhaps generated by the transport or assembly of NFs in the distal axon. In order to assess this hypothesis, expression of NFs was manipulated by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MO). A standard, company-supplied MO was used as control. Axon retraction and regeneration were assessed at 2, 4 and 9 weeks after MOs were applied to a spinal cord transection (TX) site. Antisense MO inhibited NF180 expression compared to control MO. The effect of inhibiting NF expression on axon retraction and regeneration was studied by measuring the distance of axon tips from the TX site at 2 and 4 weeks post-TX, and counting the number of reticulospinal neurons (RNs) retrogradely labeled by fluorescently-tagged dextran injected caudal to the injury at 9 weeks post-TX. There was no statistically significant effect of MO on axon retraction at 2 weeks post-TX. However, at both 4 and 9 weeks post-TX, inhibition of NF expression inhibited axon regeneration.

Vanadium dioxide based frequency tunable metasurface filters for realizing reconfigurable terahertz optical phase and polarization control.

PubMed

Nouman, M Tayyab; Hwang, Ji Hyun; Faiyaz, Mohd; Lee, Kye-Jeong; Noh, Do-Young; Jang, Jae-Hyung

2018-05-14

Metasurfaces are two dimensional arrays of artificial subwavelength resonators, which can manipulate the amplitude and phase profile of incident electromagnetic fields. To date, limited progress has been achieved in realizing reconfigurable phase control of incident waves using metasurfaces. Here, an active metasurface is presented, whose resonance frequency can be tuned by employing insulator to metal transition in vanadium dioxide. By virtue of the phase jump accompanied by the resonance frequency tuning, the proposed metasurface acts as a phase shifter at THz frequency. It is further demonstrated that by appropriately tailoring the anisotropy of the metasurface, the observed phase shift can be used to switch the transmitted polarization from circular to approximately linear. This work thus shows potential for reconfigurable phase and polarization control at THz frequencies using vanadium dioxide based frequency tunable metasurfaces.

Multi-mode sensor processing on a dynamically reconfigurable massively parallel processor array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Paul; Butts, Mike; Budlong, Brad; Wasson, Paul

2008-04-01

This paper introduces a novel computing architecture that can be reconfigured in real time to adapt on demand to multi-mode sensor platforms' dynamic computational and functional requirements. This 1 teraOPS reconfigurable Massively Parallel Processor Array (MPPA) has 336 32-bit processors. The programmable 32-bit communication fabric provides streamlined inter-processor connections with deterministically high performance. Software programmability, scalability, ease of use, and fast reconfiguration time (ranging from microseconds to milliseconds) are the most significant advantages over FPGAs and DSPs. This paper introduces the MPPA architecture, its programming model, and methods of reconfigurability. An MPPA platform for reconfigurable computing is based on a structural object programming model. Objects are software programs running concurrently on hundreds of 32-bit RISC processors and memories. They exchange data and control through a network of self-synchronizing channels. A common application design pattern on this platform, called a work farm, is a parallel set of worker objects, with one input and one output stream. Statically configured work farms with homogeneous and heterogeneous sets of workers have been used in video compression and decompression, network processing, and graphics applications.

Long-term effects of Class II orthodontic treatment on oral health.

PubMed

Bock, N C; Saffar, M; Hudel, H; Evälahti, M; Heikinheimo, K; Rice, D P C; Ruf, S

2018-03-01

To investigate the long-term (≥15 years) benefit of orthodontic Class II treatment (Tx) on oral health (OH). All patients (Department of Orthodontics, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany) who underwent Class II correction (Herbst-multibracket Tx, end of active Tx ≥ 15 years ago) and agreed to participate in a recall (clinical examination, interview, impressions, and photographs) were included. Records after active Tx were used to assess the long-term OH effects. Data were compared to corresponding population-representative age-cohorts as well as to untreated Class I controls without orthodontic Tx need during adolescence. Of 152 treated Class II patients, 75 could be located and agreed to participate at 33.7 ± 3.0 years of age (pre-Tx age: 14.0 ± 2.7 years). The majority (70.8%) were fully satisfied with their teeth and with their masticatory system. The Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth Index (DMFT) was 7.1 ± 4.8 and, thus, almost identical to that of the untreated Class I controls (7.9 ± 3.6). In contrast, the DMFT in the population-representative age-cohort was 56% higher. The determined mean Community Periodontal Index (CPI) maximum score (1.6 ± 0.6) was also comparable to the untreated Class I controls (1.7 ± 0.9) but in the corresponding population-representative age-cohort it was 19-44% higher. The extent of lower incisor gingival recessions did not differ significantly between the treated Class II participants and the untreated Class I controls (0.1 ± 0.2 vs. 0.0 ± 0.1 mm). Patients with orthodontically treated severe Class II malocclusions had a lower risk for oral health impairment than the general population. The risk corresponded to that of untreated Class I controls (without orthodontic Tx need during adolescence).

Controlling Disorder by Electric Field Directed Reconfiguration of Nanowires to Tune Random Lasing.

PubMed

Donahue, Philip P; Zhang, Chenji; Nye, Nicholas; Miller, Jennifer; Wang, Cheng-Yu; Tang, Rong; Christodoulides, Demetrios; Keating, Christine D; Liu, Zhiwen

2018-06-27

Top-down fabrication is commonly used to provide positioning control of optical structures; yet, it places stringent limitations on component materials and oftentimes, dynamic reconfigurability is challenging to realize. Here we present a reconfigurable nanoparticle platform that can integrate heterogeneous particle assembly of different shapes, sizes, and material compositions. We demonstrate dynamic manipulation of disorder in this platform and use it to controllably enhance or frustrate random laser emission for a suspension of titanium dioxide nanowires in a dye solution. Using an alternating current electric field, we control the nanowire orientation to dynamically control the collective scattering of the sample and thus light confinement. Our theoretical model indicates that an increase of 22% in scattering coefficient can be achieved for the experimentally determined nanowire length distribution upon alignment. As a result, a nearly 20-fold enhancement in lasing intensity was achieved. We illustrate the generality of the approach by demonstrating enhanced lasing for aligned nanowires of other materials including gold, mixed gold/dielectric and vanadium oxide (VxOy).

49 CFR 372.237 - Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... REGULATIONS EXEMPTIONS, COMMERCIAL ZONES, AND TERMINAL AREAS Commercial Zones § 372.237 Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX. (a) Transportation within a zone comprised of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr... common control, management, or arrangement for shipment to or from points beyond such zone, is partially...

49 CFR 372.237 - Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... REGULATIONS EXEMPTIONS, COMMERCIAL ZONES, AND TERMINAL AREAS Commercial Zones § 372.237 Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX. (a) Transportation within a zone comprised of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr... common control, management, or arrangement for shipment to or from points beyond such zone, is partially...

49 CFR 372.237 - Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... REGULATIONS EXEMPTIONS, COMMERCIAL ZONES, AND TERMINAL AREAS Commercial Zones § 372.237 Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX. (a) Transportation within a zone comprised of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr... common control, management, or arrangement for shipment to or from points beyond such zone, is partially...

49 CFR 372.237 - Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... REGULATIONS EXEMPTIONS, COMMERCIAL ZONES, AND TERMINAL AREAS Commercial Zones § 372.237 Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX. (a) Transportation within a zone comprised of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr... common control, management, or arrangement for shipment to or from points beyond such zone, is partially...

49 CFR 372.237 - Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... REGULATIONS EXEMPTIONS, COMMERCIAL ZONES, AND TERMINAL AREAS Commercial Zones § 372.237 Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, TX. (a) Transportation within a zone comprised of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr... common control, management, or arrangement for shipment to or from points beyond such zone, is partially...

Dynamic partial reconfiguration of logic controllers implemented in FPGAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bazydło, Grzegorz; Wiśniewski, Remigiusz

2016-09-01

Technological progress in recent years benefits in digital circuits containing millions of logic gates with the capability for reprogramming and reconfiguring. On the one hand it provides the unprecedented computational power, but on the other hand the modelled systems are becoming increasingly complex, hierarchical and concurrent. Therefore, abstract modelling supported by the Computer Aided Design tools becomes a very important task. Even the higher consumption of the basic electronic components seems to be acceptable because chip manufacturing costs tend to fall over the time. The paper presents a modelling approach for logic controllers with the use of Unified Modelling Language (UML). Thanks to the Model Driven Development approach, starting with a UML state machine model, through the construction of an intermediate Hierarchical Concurrent Finite State Machine model, a collection of Verilog files is created. The system description generated in hardware description language can be synthesized and implemented in reconfigurable devices, such as FPGAs. Modular specification of the prototyped controller permits for further dynamic partial reconfiguration of the prototyped system. The idea bases on the exchanging of the functionality of the already implemented controller without stopping of the FPGA device. It means, that a part (for example a single module) of the logic controller is replaced by other version (called context), while the rest of the system is still running. The method is illustrated by a practical example by an exemplary Home Area Network system.

Digital Full-Scope Simulation of a Conventional Nuclear Power Plant Control Room, Phase 2: Installation of a Reconfigurable Simulator to Support Nuclear Plant Sustainability

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

Ronald L. Boring; Vivek Agarwal; Kirk Fitzgerald

2013-03-01

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability program has developed a control room simulator in support of control room modernization at nuclear power plants in the U.S. This report highlights the recent completion of this reconfigurable, full-scale, full-scope control room simulator buildout at the Idaho National Laboratory. The simulator is fully reconfigurable, meaning it supports multiple plant models developed by different simulator vendors. The simulator is full-scale, using glasstop virtual panels to display the analog control boards found at current plants. The present installation features 15 glasstop panels, uniquely achieving a complete control room representation. The simulator ismore » also full-scope, meaning it uses the same plant models used for training simulators at actual plants. Unlike in the plant training simulators, the deployment on glasstop panels allows a high degree of customization of the panels, allowing the simulator to be used for research on the design of new digital control systems for control room modernization. This report includes separate sections discussing the glasstop panels, their layout to mimic control rooms at actual plants, technical details on creating a multi-plant and multi-vendor reconfigurable simulator, and current efforts to support control room modernization at U.S. utilities. The glasstop simulator provides an ideal testbed for prototyping and validating new control room concepts. Equally importantly, it is helping create a standardized and vetted human factors engineering process that can be used across the nuclear industry to ensure control room upgrades maintain and even improve current reliability and safety.« less

Reconfigurable dual-band metamaterial antenna based on liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Che, Bang-Jun; Meng, Fan-Yi; Lyu, Yue-Long; Wu, Qun

2018-05-01

In this paper, a novel reconfigurable dual-band metamaterial antenna with a continuous beam that is electrically steered in backward to forward directions is first proposed by employing a liquid crystal (LC)-loaded tunable extended composite right-/left-handed (E-CRLH) transmission line (TL). The frequency-dependent property of the E-CRLH TL is analyzed and a compact unit cell based on the nematic LC is proposed to realize the tunable dual band characteristics. The phase constant of the proposed unit cell can be dynamically continuously tuned from negative to positive values in two operating bands by changing the bias voltage of the loaded LC material. A resulting dual band fixed-frequency beam steering property has been predicted by numerical simulations and experimentally verified. The measured results show that the fabricated reconfigurable antenna features an electrically controlled continuous beam steering from backward  ‑16° to forward  +13° at 7.2 GHz and backward  ‑9° to forward  +17° at 9.4 GHz, respectively. This electrically controlled beam steering range turns out to be competitive with the previously reported single band reconfigurable antennas. Besides, the measured and simulated results of the proposed reconfigurable dual-band metamaterial antenna are in good agreement.

Definition and trade-off study of reconfigurable airborne digital computer system organizations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conn, R. B.

1974-01-01

A highly-reliable, fault-tolerant reconfigurable computer system for aircraft applications was developed. The development and application reliability and fault-tolerance assessment techniques are described. Particular emphasis is placed on the needs of an all-digital, fly-by-wire control system appropriate for a passenger-carrying airplane.

Antenna reconfiguration verification and validation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Becker, Robert C. (Inventor); Meyers, David W. (Inventor); Muldoon, Kelly P. (Inventor); Carlson, Douglas R. (Inventor); Drexler, Jerome P. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A method of testing the electrical functionality of an optically controlled switch in a reconfigurable antenna is provided. The method includes configuring one or more conductive paths between one or more feed points and one or more test point with switches in the reconfigurable antenna. Applying one or more test signals to the one or more feed points. Monitoring the one or more test points in response to the one or more test signals and determining the functionality of the switch based upon the monitoring of the one or more test points.

A Randomized Trial of an Avatar-Hosted Multiple Behavior Change Intervention for Young Adult Smokers

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Young adulthood is a critical transition period for the development of health behaviors. We present here the results of a randomized controlled trial of an online avatar-hosted personal health makeover program designed for young adult smokers. Methods We conducted a three-group randomized trial comparing delivery of general lifestyle content (Tx1), personally tailored health information (Tx2), and personally tailored health information plus online video–based peer coaching (Tx3) as part of a 6-week online health program. Participants were asked to set weekly goals around eating breakfast, exercise, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking. Eligibility criteria included age (18–30 years) and smoking status (any cigarette use in the previous 30 days). The primary outcome was self-reported 30-day abstinence measured 12 weeks postenrollment. Results Participant (n = 1698) characteristics were balanced across the groups (72% women, mean age 24, 26% nonwhite, 32% high school education or less, and 50% daily smokers). Considering intention to treat, 30-day smoking abstinence rates were statistically significantly higher in the intervention groups (Tx1 = 11%, Tx2 = 23%, Tx3 = 31%, P < .001). Participants in the intervention groups were also more likely to reduce their number of days spent on binge drinking and increase their number of days eating breakfast and exercising. Overall, intervention group participants were much more likely to make positive changes in at least three or four of the target behaviors (Tx1 = 19%, Tx2 = 39%, Tx3 = 41%, P < .001). Conclusions This online avatar-hosted personal health makeover “show” increased smoking abstinence and induced positive changes in multiple related health behaviors. Addition of the online video–based peer coaching further improved behavioral outcomes. PMID:24395994

A randomized trial of an avatar-hosted multiple behavior change intervention for young adult smokers.

PubMed

An, Lawrence C; Demers, Michele R S; Kirch, Matthias A; Considine-Dunn, Shannon; Nair, Vijay; Dasgupta, Kohinoor; Narisetty, Naveen; Resnicow, Ken; Ahluwalia, Jasjit

2013-12-01

Young adulthood is a critical transition period for the development of health behaviors. We present here the results of a randomized controlled trial of an online avatar-hosted personal health makeover program designed for young adult smokers. We conducted a three-group randomized trial comparing delivery of general lifestyle content (Tx1), personally tailored health information (Tx2), and personally tailored health information plus online video-based peer coaching (Tx3) as part of a 6-week online health program. Participants were asked to set weekly goals around eating breakfast, exercise, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking. Eligibility criteria included age (18-30 years) and smoking status (any cigarette use in the previous 30 days). The primary outcome was self-reported 30-day abstinence measured 12 weeks postenrollment. Participant (n = 1698) characteristics were balanced across the groups (72% women, mean age 24, 26% nonwhite, 32% high school education or less, and 50% daily smokers). Considering intention to treat, 30-day smoking abstinence rates were statistically significantly higher in the intervention groups (Tx1 = 11%, Tx2 = 23%, Tx3 = 31%, P < .001). Participants in the intervention groups were also more likely to reduce their number of days spent on binge drinking and increase their number of days eating breakfast and exercising. Overall, intervention group participants were much more likely to make positive changes in at least three or four of the target behaviors (Tx1 = 19%, Tx2 = 39%, Tx3 = 41%, P < .001). This online avatar-hosted personal health makeover "show" increased smoking abstinence and induced positive changes in multiple related health behaviors. Addition of the online video-based peer coaching further improved behavioral outcomes.

Wilson Disease: Epigenetic effects of choline supplementation on phenotype and clinical course in a mouse model.

PubMed

Medici, Valentina; Kieffer, Dorothy A; Shibata, Noreene M; Chima, Harpreet; Kim, Kyoungmi; Canovas, Angela; Medrano, Juan F; Islas-Trejo, Alma D; Kharbanda, Kusum K; Olson, Kristin; Su, Ruijun J; Islam, Mohammad S; Syed, Raisa; Keen, Carl L; Miller, Amy Y; Rutledge, John C; Halsted, Charles H; LaSalle, Janine M

2016-11-01

Wilson disease (WD), a genetic disorder affecting copper transport, is characterized by hepatic and neurological manifestations with variable and often unpredictable presentation. Global DNA methylation in liver was previously modified by dietary choline in tx-j mice, a spontaneous mutant model of WD. We therefore hypothesized that the WD phenotype and hepatic gene expression of tx-j offspring could be modified by maternal methyl supplementation during pregnancy. In an initial experiment, female tx-j mice or wild type mice were fed control or choline-supplemented diets 2 weeks prior to mating through embryonic day 17. Transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) on embryonic livers revealed tx-j-specific differences in genes related to oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the neurological disorders Huntington's disease and Alzheimer disease. Maternal choline supplementation restored the transcript levels of a subset of genes to wild type levels. In a separate experiment, a group of tx-j offspring continued to receive choline-supplemented or control diets, with or without the copper chelator penicillamine (PCA) for 12 weeks until 24 weeks of age. Combined choline supplementation and PCA treatment of 24-week-old tx-j mice was associated with increased liver transcript levels of methionine metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation-related genes. Sex differences in gene expression within each treatment group were also observed. These results demonstrate that the transcriptional changes in oxidative phosphorylation and methionine metabolism genes in WD that originate during fetal life are, in part, prevented by prenatal maternal choline supplementation, a finding with potential relevance to preventive treatments of WD.

Wilson Disease: Epigenetic effects of choline supplementation on phenotype and clinical course in a mouse model

PubMed Central

Medici, Valentina; Kieffer, Dorothy A.; Shibata, Noreene M.; Chima, Harpreet; Kim, Kyoungmi; Canovas, Angela; Medrano, Juan F.; Islas-Trejo, Alma D.; Kharbanda, Kusum K.; Olson, Kristin; Su, Ruijun J.; Islam, Mohammad S.; Syed, Raisa; Keen, Carl L.; Miller, Amy Y.; Rutledge, John C.; Halsted, Charles H.; LaSalle, Janine M.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Wilson disease (WD), a genetic disorder affecting copper transport, is characterized by hepatic and neurological manifestations with variable and often unpredictable presentation. Global DNA methylation in liver was previously modified by dietary choline in tx-j mice, a spontaneous mutant model of WD. We therefore hypothesized that the WD phenotype and hepatic gene expression of tx-j offspring could be modified by maternal methyl supplementation during pregnancy. In an initial experiment, female tx-j mice or wild type mice were fed control or choline-supplemented diets 2 weeks prior to mating through embryonic day 17. Transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) on embryonic livers revealed tx-j-specific differences in genes related to oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the neurological disorders Huntington's disease and Alzheimer disease. Maternal choline supplementation restored the transcript levels of a subset of genes to wild type levels. In a separate experiment, a group of tx-j offspring continued to receive choline-supplemented or control diets, with or without the copper chelator penicillamine (PCA) for 12 weeks until 24 weeks of age. Combined choline supplementation and PCA treatment of 24-week-old tx-j mice was associated with increased liver transcript levels of methionine metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation-related genes. Sex differences in gene expression within each treatment group were also observed. These results demonstrate that the transcriptional changes in oxidative phosphorylation and methionine metabolism genes in WD that originate during fetal life are, in part, prevented by prenatal maternal choline supplementation, a finding with potential relevance to preventive treatments of WD. PMID:27611852

A CCD experimental platform for large telescope in Antarctica based on FPGA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Yuhua; Qi, Yongjun

2014-07-01

The CCD , as a detector , is one of the important components of astronomical telescopes. For a large telescope in Antarctica, a set of CCD detector system with large size, high sensitivity and low noise is indispensable. Because of the extremely low temperatures and unattended, system maintenance and software and hardware upgrade become hard problems. This paper introduces a general CCD controller experiment platform, using Field programmable gate array FPGA, which is, in fact, a large-scale field reconfigurable array. Taking the advantage of convenience to modify the system, construction of driving circuit, digital signal processing module, network communication interface, control algorithm validation, and remote reconfigurable module may realize. With the concept of integrated hardware and software, the paper discusses the key technology of building scientific CCD system suitable for the special work environment in Antarctica, focusing on the method of remote reconfiguration for controller via network and then offering a feasible hardware and software solution.

Androgynous, Reconfigurable Closed Loop Feedback Controlled Low Impact Docking System With Load Sensing Electromagnetic Capture Ring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, James L. (Inventor); Carroll, Monty B. (Inventor); Morales, Ray H. (Inventor); Le, Thang D. (Inventor)

2002-01-01

The present invention relates to a fully androgynous, reconfigurable closed loop feedback controlled low impact docking system with load sensing electromagnetic capture ring. The docking system of the present invention preferably comprises two Docking- assemblies, each docking assembly comprising a load sensing ring having an outer face, one of more electromagnets, one or more load cells coupled to said load sensing ring. The docking assembly further comprises a plurality of actuator arms coupled to said load sensing ring and capable of dynamically adjusting the orientation of said load sensing ring and a reconfigurable closed loop control system capable of analyzing signals originating from said plurality of load cells and of outputting real time control for each of the actuators. The docking assembly of the present invention incorporates an active load sensing system to automatically dynamically adjust the load sensing ring during capture instead of requiring significant force to push and realign the ring.

Regulatory T cells may participate in Helicobacter pylori persistence in gastric MALT lymphoma: lessons from an animal model.

PubMed

Laur, Amandine Marine; Floch, Pauline; Chambonnier, Lucie; Benejat, Lucie; Korolik, Victoria; Giese, Alban; Dubus, Pierre; Mégraud, Francis; Bandeira, Antonio; Lehours, Philippe

2016-01-19

It has been postulated that the emergence of autoimmune gastritis in neonatal thymectomised (d3Tx) BALB/c mice may be a consequence of post-surgery deficit in Tregs. In this study, previously obtained samples from d3Tx mice were used in order to determine whether thymectomy creates a deficit in this T cell subset thereby allowing the emergence of autoimmune phenomena as a prerequisite for GML. The splenic Treg reserve and the local recruitment of these cells in the gastric mucosa were investigated using complementary molecular and immunohistochemistry approaches. Higher Foxp3/CD3 ratios were found in the spleen of non-infected d3Tx mice compared to non-thymectomised (NTx) controls. These results indicate a relative enrichment of Tregs following thymectomy in adult mice. The absence of Treg depletion in d3Tx mice is in line with the absence of auto-immune gastritis in non-infected d3Tx mice. Higher levels of T cell and Treg infiltration were also found in the stomach of GML-developing d3Tx mice versus NTx mice. Surprisingly, inflammatory scores inversely correlated with the bacterial inoculum. The presence of a small Treg containing compartment among gastric biopsies of GML developing d3Tx mice may play a role in perseverance of a minimal bacterial numbers thereby maintaining an antigen-dependent stimulation and proliferation.

Reconfigurable all-dielectric metasurface based on tunable chemical systems in aqueous solution.

PubMed

Yang, Xiaoqing; Zhang, Di; Wu, Shiyue; Yin, Yang; Li, Lanshuo; Cao, Kaiyuan; Huang, Kama

2017-06-09

Dynamic control transmission and polarization properties of electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation is investigated using chemical reconfigurable all-dielectric metasurface. The metasurface is composed of cross-shaped periodical teflon tubes and inner filled chemical systems (i.e., mixtures and chemical reaction) in aqueous solution. By tuning the complex permittivity of chemical systems, the reconfigurable metasurface can be easily achieved. The transmission properties of different incident polarized waves (i.e., linear and circular polarization) were simulated and experimentally measured for static ethanol solution as volume ratio changed. Both results indicated this metasurface can serve as either tunable FSS (Frequency Selective Surface) or tunable linear-to-circular/cross Polarization Converter at required frequency range. Based on the reconfigurable laws obtained from static solutions, we developed a dynamic dielectric system and researched a typical chemical reaction with time-varying permittivity filled in the tubes experimentally. It provides new ways for realizing automatic reconfiguration of metasurface by chemical reaction system with given variation laws of permittivity.

A novel thromboxane A2 receptor D304N variant that abrogates ligand binding in a patient with a bleeding diathesis.

PubMed

Mumford, Andrew D; Dawood, Ban B; Daly, Martina E; Murden, Sherina L; Williams, Michael D; Protty, Majd B; Spalton, Jennifer C; Wheatley, Mark; Mundell, Stuart J; Watson, Steve P

2010-01-14

We investigated the cause of mild mucocutaneous bleeding in a 14-year-old male patient (P1). Platelet aggregation and ATP secretion induced by arachidonic acid and the thromboxane A(2) receptor (TxA(2)R) agonist U46619 were reduced in P1 compared with controls, whereas the responses to other platelet agonists were retained. P1 was heterozygous for a transversion within the TBXA2R gene predictive of a D304N substitution in the TxA(2)R. In Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells expressing the variant D304N TxA(2)R, U46619 did not increase cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration, indicating loss of receptor function. The TxA(2)R antagonist [(3)H]-SQ29548 showed an approximate 50% decrease in binding to platelets from P1 but absent binding to Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells expressing variant D304N TxA(2)R. This is the second naturally occurring TxA(2)R variant to be associated with platelet dysfunction and the first in which loss of receptor function is associated with reduced ligand binding. D304 lies within a conserved NPXXY motif in transmembrane domain 7 of the TxA(2)R that is a key structural element in family A G protein-coupled receptors. Our demonstration that the D304N substitution causes clinically significant platelet dysfunction by reducing ligand binding establishes the importance of the NPXXY motif for TxA(2)R function in vivo.

Parallel transmission pulse design with explicit control for the specific absorption rate in the presence of radiofrequency errors.

PubMed

Martin, Adrian; Schiavi, Emanuele; Eryaman, Yigitcan; Herraiz, Joaquin L; Gagoski, Borjan; Adalsteinsson, Elfar; Wald, Lawrence L; Guerin, Bastien

2016-06-01

A new framework for the design of parallel transmit (pTx) pulses is presented introducing constraints for local and global specific absorption rate (SAR) in the presence of errors in the radiofrequency (RF) transmit chain. The first step is the design of a pTx RF pulse with explicit constraints for global and local SAR. Then, the worst possible SAR associated with that pulse due to RF transmission errors ("worst-case SAR") is calculated. Finally, this information is used to re-calculate the pulse with lower SAR constraints, iterating this procedure until its worst-case SAR is within safety limits. Analysis of an actual pTx RF transmit chain revealed amplitude errors as high as 8% (20%) and phase errors above 3° (15°) for spokes (spiral) pulses. Simulations show that using the proposed framework, pulses can be designed with controlled "worst-case SAR" in the presence of errors of this magnitude at minor cost of the excitation profile quality. Our worst-case SAR-constrained pTx design strategy yields pulses with local and global SAR within the safety limits even in the presence of RF transmission errors. This strategy is a natural way to incorporate SAR safety factors in the design of pTx pulses. Magn Reson Med 75:2493-2504, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Active vibration control of a full scale aircraft wing using a reconfigurable controller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, Shashikala; Renjith Kumar, T. G.; Raja, S.; Dwarakanathan, D.; Subramani, H.; Karthikeyan, C.

2016-01-01

This work highlights the design of a Reconfigurable Active Vibration Control (AVC) System for aircraft structures using adaptive techniques. The AVC system with a multichannel capability is realized using Filtered-X Least Mean Square algorithm (FxLMS) on Xilinx Virtex-4 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform in Very High Speed Integrated Circuits Hardware Description Language, (VHDL). The HDL design is made based on Finite State Machine (FSM) model with Floating point Intellectual Property (IP) cores for arithmetic operations. The use of FPGA facilitates to modify the system parameters even during runtime depending on the changes in user's requirements. The locations of the control actuators are optimized based on dynamic modal strain approach using genetic algorithm (GA). The developed system has been successfully deployed for the AVC testing of the full-scale wing of an all composite two seater transport aircraft. Several closed loop configurations like single channel and multi-channel control have been tested. The experimental results from the studies presented here are very encouraging. They demonstrate the usefulness of the system's reconfigurability for real time applications.

75 FR 8741 - Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-25

...: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION... Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the control of Stephen F... of Oklahoma, which was under contract with Stephen F. Austin State University. In 1957, 15 cultural...

Reconfigurable Robust Routing for Mobile Outreach Network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Ching-Fang

2010-01-01

The Reconfigurable Robust Routing for Mobile Outreach Network (R3MOO N) provides advanced communications networking technologies suitable for the lunar surface environment and applications. The R3MOON techn ology is based on a detailed concept of operations tailored for luna r surface networks, and includes intelligent routing algorithms and wireless mesh network implementation on AGNC's Coremicro Robots. The product's features include an integrated communication solution inco rporating energy efficiency and disruption-tolerance in a mobile ad h oc network, and a real-time control module to provide researchers an d engineers a convenient tool for reconfiguration, investigation, an d management.

Reconfigurable manufacturing execution system for pipe cutting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Y. H.; Xie, J. Y.

2011-08-01

This article presents a reconfigurable manufacturing execution system (RMES) filling the gap between enterprise resource planning and resource layer for pipe-cutting production with mass customisation and rapid adaptation to dynamic market, which consists of planning and scheduling layer and executive control layer. Starting from customer's task and process requirements, the cutting trajectories are planned under generalised mathematical model able to reconfigure in accordance with various intersecting types' joint, and all tasks are scheduled by nesting algorithm to maximise the utilisation rate of rough material. This RMES for pipe cutting has been effectively implemented in more than 100 companies.

Reconfiguration of Cortical Networks in MDD Uncovered by Multiscale Community Detection with fMRI.

PubMed

He, Ye; Lim, Sol; Fortunato, Santo; Sporns, Olaf; Zhang, Lei; Qiu, Jiang; Xie, Peng; Zuo, Xi-Nian

2018-04-01

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is known to be associated with altered interactions between distributed brain regions. How these regional changes relate to the reorganization of cortical functional systems, and their modulation by antidepressant medication, is relatively unexplored. To identify changes in the community structure of cortical functional networks in MDD, we performed a multiscale community detection algorithm on resting-state functional connectivity networks of unmedicated MDD (uMDD) patients (n = 46), medicated MDD (mMDD) patients (n = 38), and healthy controls (n = 50), which yielded a spectrum of multiscale community partitions. we selected an optimal resolution level by identifying the most stable community partition for each group. uMDD and mMDD groups exhibited a similar reconfiguration of the community structure of the visual association and the default mode systems but showed different reconfiguration profiles in the frontoparietal control (FPC) subsystems. Furthermore, the central system (somatomotor/salience) and 3 frontoparietal subsystems showed strengthened connectivity with other communities in uMDD but, with the exception of 1 frontoparietal subsystem, returned to control levels in mMDD. These findings provide evidence for reconfiguration of specific cortical functional systems associated with MDD, as well as potential effects of medication in restoring disease-related network alterations, especially those of the FPC system.

An Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) Mode Reconfigurable Antenna for Channel Capacity Improvement and Digital Data Encoding.

PubMed

Liu, Baiyang; Lin, Guoying; Cui, Yuehui; Li, RongLin

2017-08-29

For purpose of utilizing orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode diversity, multiple OAM beams should be generated preferably by a single antenna. In this paper, an OAM mode reconfigurable antenna is proposed. Different from the existed OAM antennas with multiple ports for multiple OAM modes transmitting, the proposed antenna with only a single port, but it can be used to transmit mode 1 or mode -1 OAM beams arbitrary by controlling the PIN diodes on the feeding network through a programmable microcontroller which control by a remote controller. Simulation and measurement results such as return loss, near-field and far-field radiation patterns of two operating states for mode 1 and mode -1, and OAM mode orthogonality are given. The proposed antenna can serve as a candidate for utilizing OAM diversity, namely phase diversity to increase channel capacity at 2.4 GHz. Moreover, an OAM-mode based encoding method is experimentally carried out by the proposed OAM mode reconfigurable antenna, the digital data are encoded and decoded by different OAM modes. At the transmitter, the proposed OAM mode reconfigurable antenna is used to encode the digital data, data symbol 0 and 1 are mapped to OAM mode 1 and mode -1, respectively. At the receiver, the data symbols are decoded by phase gradient method.

A variable-gain output feedback control design methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halyo, Nesim; Moerder, Daniel D.; Broussard, John R.; Taylor, Deborah B.

1989-01-01

A digital control system design technique is developed in which the control system gain matrix varies with the plant operating point parameters. The design technique is obtained by formulating the problem as an optimal stochastic output feedback control law with variable gains. This approach provides a control theory framework within which the operating range of a control law can be significantly extended. Furthermore, the approach avoids the major shortcomings of the conventional gain-scheduling techniques. The optimal variable gain output feedback control problem is solved by embedding the Multi-Configuration Control (MCC) problem, previously solved at ICS. An algorithm to compute the optimal variable gain output feedback control gain matrices is developed. The algorithm is a modified version of the MCC algorithm improved so as to handle the large dimensionality which arises particularly in variable-gain control problems. The design methodology developed is applied to a reconfigurable aircraft control problem. A variable-gain output feedback control problem was formulated to design a flight control law for an AFTI F-16 aircraft which can automatically reconfigure its control strategy to accommodate failures in the horizontal tail control surface. Simulations of the closed-loop reconfigurable system show that the approach produces a control design which can accommodate such failures with relative ease. The technique can be applied to many other problems including sensor failure accommodation, mode switching control laws and super agility.

Efficacy of Live-Attenuated H9N2 Influenza Vaccine Candidates Containing NS1 Truncations against H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses.

PubMed

Chen, Sujuan; Zhu, Yinbiao; Yang, Da; Yang, Yang; Shi, Shaohua; Qin, Tao; Peng, Daxin; Liu, Xiufan

2017-01-01

H9N2 avian influenza virus is a zoonotic agent with a broad host range that can contribute genetic information to H5 or H7N9 subtype viruses, which are significant threats to both humans and birds. Thus, there is a great need for a vaccine to control H9N2 avian influenza. Three mutant viruses of an H9N2 virus A/chicken/Taixing/10/2010 (rTX-NS1-73, rTX-NS1-100, and rTX-NS1-128) were constructed with different NS1 gene truncations and confirmed by western blot analysis. The genetic stability, pathogenicity, transmissibility, and host immune responses toward these mutants were evaluated. The mutant virus rTX-NS1-128 exhibited the most attenuated phenotype and lost transmissibility. The expression levels of interleukin 12 in the nasal and tracheal tissues from chickens immunized with rTX-NS1-128 were significantly upregulated on day 3 post-immunization and the IgA and IgG antibody levels were significantly increased on days 7, 14, and 21 post-immunization when compared to chickens that received an inactivated vaccine. rTX-NS1-128 also protected chickens from challenge by homologous and heterologous H9N2 avian influenza viruses. The results indicate that rTX-NS1-128 can be used as a potential live-attenuated vaccine against H9N2 avian influenza.

The Effect of Foot Reflexology on the Anxiety Levels of Women in Labor.

PubMed

Yılar Erkek, Zümrüt; Aktas, Songul

2018-04-01

This research was conducted to analyze the effect of foot reflexology on the anxiety levels of women during labor. The study was conducted as a semiexperimental study. It was conducted with 154 nulliparous pregnant women who applied to a maternity unit of a state hospital in the north-western part of Turkey to give birth. Foot reflexology was applied once to the pregnant women in the experimental group when cervical dilation was 3-4 cm. The treatment was applied to the right foot and left foot reflex points for 15 min, for a total of 30 min. The data in the study were collected using the "Pregnant Women Introductory Information Form" and the "Spielberger State-trait Anxiety Inventory" (STAI TX-1). In evaluating the data, number, percentage, Chi-square, independent samples t-test, and repeated measure analysis of variance test were used. The mean scores of the STAI TX-1 were used to analyze the results. The mean STAI TX-1 scores were measured before reflexology, in the latent and active phases of labor and early in postpartum period (four times in total). The mean STAI TX-1 scores were higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean STAI TX-1 scores postreflexology application (when cervical dilation was 3-4 cm) and during the active phase of the labor (when cervical dilation was 6-8 cm) of the pregnant women in the experimental group were lower than those of the control group (respectively p = 0.010, p < 0.001). In the experimental group, there was no statistically significant difference between the mean STAI TX-1 scores pre- and postreflexology (p = 0.820). The mean STAI TX-1 scores in the early postpartum period were similar in the experimental and control groups (p = 0.080). Foot reflexology was found to have a positive effect in lowering the total anxiety scores of the pregnant women. Reflexology is a noninvasive and economical method, which may be used by health professionals to reduce problems during labor. A decrease in anxiety experienced at birth improves women's positive birth experiences, promotes a secure mother-infant attachment, and protects postpartum mental health.

Neural Networks for Flight Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jorgensen, Charles C.

1996-01-01

Neural networks are being developed at NASA Ames Research Center to permit real-time adaptive control of time varying nonlinear systems, enhance the fault-tolerance of mission hardware, and permit online system reconfiguration. In general, the problem of controlling time varying nonlinear systems with unknown structures has not been solved. Adaptive neural control techniques show considerable promise and are being applied to technical challenges including automated docking of spacecraft, dynamic balancing of the space station centrifuge, online reconfiguration of damaged aircraft, and reducing cost of new air and spacecraft designs. Our experiences have shown that neural network algorithms solved certain problems that conventional control methods have been unable to effectively address. These include damage mitigation in nonlinear reconfiguration flight control, early performance estimation of new aircraft designs, compensation for damaged planetary mission hardware by using redundant manipulator capability, and space sensor platform stabilization. This presentation explored these developments in the context of neural network control theory. The discussion began with an overview of why neural control has proven attractive for NASA application domains. The more important issues in control system development were then discussed with references to significant technical advances in the literature. Examples of how these methods have been applied were given, followed by projections of emerging application needs and directions.

A Survey on FPGA-Based Sensor Systems: Towards Intelligent and Reconfigurable Low-Power Sensors for Computer Vision, Control and Signal Processing

PubMed Central

García, Gabriel J.; Jara, Carlos A.; Pomares, Jorge; Alabdo, Aiman; Poggi, Lucas M.; Torres, Fernando

2014-01-01

The current trend in the evolution of sensor systems seeks ways to provide more accuracy and resolution, while at the same time decreasing the size and power consumption. The use of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) provides specific reprogrammable hardware technology that can be properly exploited to obtain a reconfigurable sensor system. This adaptation capability enables the implementation of complex applications using the partial reconfigurability at a very low-power consumption. For highly demanding tasks FPGAs have been favored due to the high efficiency provided by their architectural flexibility (parallelism, on-chip memory, etc.), reconfigurability and superb performance in the development of algorithms. FPGAs have improved the performance of sensor systems and have triggered a clear increase in their use in new fields of application. A new generation of smarter, reconfigurable and lower power consumption sensors is being developed in Spain based on FPGAs. In this paper, a review of these developments is presented, describing as well the FPGA technologies employed by the different research groups and providing an overview of future research within this field. PMID:24691100

A survey on FPGA-based sensor systems: towards intelligent and reconfigurable low-power sensors for computer vision, control and signal processing.

PubMed

García, Gabriel J; Jara, Carlos A; Pomares, Jorge; Alabdo, Aiman; Poggi, Lucas M; Torres, Fernando

2014-03-31

The current trend in the evolution of sensor systems seeks ways to provide more accuracy and resolution, while at the same time decreasing the size and power consumption. The use of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) provides specific reprogrammable hardware technology that can be properly exploited to obtain a reconfigurable sensor system. This adaptation capability enables the implementation of complex applications using the partial reconfigurability at a very low-power consumption. For highly demanding tasks FPGAs have been favored due to the high efficiency provided by their architectural flexibility (parallelism, on-chip memory, etc.), reconfigurability and superb performance in the development of algorithms. FPGAs have improved the performance of sensor systems and have triggered a clear increase in their use in new fields of application. A new generation of smarter, reconfigurable and lower power consumption sensors is being developed in Spain based on FPGAs. In this paper, a review of these developments is presented, describing as well the FPGA technologies employed by the different research groups and providing an overview of future research within this field.

Antibody and complement reduce renal hemodynamic function in isolated perfused rat kidney.

PubMed

Jocks, T; Zahner, G; Helmchen, U; Kneissler, U; Stahl, R A

1996-01-01

To evaluate the effect of antibody and complement on renal hemodynamic changes, glomerular injury was induced in isolated perfused kidneys by an anti-thymocyte antibody (ATS) and rat serum (RS). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal vascular resistance (RVR), and renal perfusate flow (RPF) were assessed over an 80-min period. The possible role of thromboxane (Tx) was tested by the application of the Tx synthesis inhibitor UK-38485 and the Tx receptor blocker daltroban. Perfusion of kidneys with ATS and RS significantly reduced GFR at 10 min (control, 501 +/- 111; ATS + RS, 138 +/- 86 ml.g kidney-1.min-1, significance of F = 0.000) after RS. Similarly, RPF (ml.g kidney-1.min-1) fell from 19.2 +/- 1.8 to 6.1 +/- 2.0 (significance of F = 0.000), whereas RVR (mmHg.ml-1.g.min) increased threefold from 5.2 +/- 0.4 to 17.9 +/- 5.0 at 10 min. These changes were ameliorated by the pretreatment of the rats with daltroban and UK-38485. Addition of erythrocytes to the perfusate increased RVR and GFR, whereas RPF decreased compared with cell-free perfused kidneys. ATS and RS in this preparation also decrease GFR and RPF. The hemodynamic alterations appeared without changes in filtration fraction. Compared with untreated, perfused control kidneys, glomerular Tx formation was significantly increased in ATS and RS perfused kidneys. These data demonstrate that antibody and RS induce impairment of renal hemodynamics, which are mediated by increased Tx formation.

A Polarization Reconfigurable Slot Antenna with a Novel Switchable Feeding Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Peng; Wang, Guang Ming

2017-12-01

A polarization reconfigurable slot antenna is proposed in this paper. The antenna consists of a microstrip line-to-slotline transition structure, two radiation slots and a switchable feeding network. The feeding network is a gradually changed ring slot with six switching diodes on it. By controlling the diodes states, the antenna can generate y-direction polarization, z-direction polarization, left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization. Detailed design considerations of the proposed antenna, simulated and measured results are presented and discussed. Measured results agree well with simulated. The results proved that the antenna can realize polarization reconfiguration effectively at 5 GHz.

Reconfigurable Mobile System - Ground, sea and air applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lamonica, Gary L.; Sturges, James W.

1990-11-01

The Reconfigurable Mobile System (RMS) is a highly mobile data-processing unit for military users requiring real-time access to data gathered by airborne (and other) reconnaissance data. RMS combines high-performance computation and image processing workstations with resources for command/control/communications in a single, lightweight shelter. RMS is composed of off-the-shelf components, and is easily reconfigurable to land-vehicle or shipboard versions. Mission planning, which involves an airborne sensor platform's sensor coverage, considered aircraft/sensor capabilities in conjunction with weather, terrain, and threat scenarios. RMS's man-machine interface concept facilitates user familiarization and features iron-based function selection and windowing.

A benchmark for fault tolerant flight control evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smaili, H.; Breeman, J.; Lombaerts, T.; Stroosma, O.

2013-12-01

A large transport aircraft simulation benchmark (REconfigurable COntrol for Vehicle Emergency Return - RECOVER) has been developed within the GARTEUR (Group for Aeronautical Research and Technology in Europe) Flight Mechanics Action Group 16 (FM-AG(16)) on Fault Tolerant Control (2004 2008) for the integrated evaluation of fault detection and identification (FDI) and reconfigurable flight control strategies. The benchmark includes a suitable set of assessment criteria and failure cases, based on reconstructed accident scenarios, to assess the potential of new adaptive control strategies to improve aircraft survivability. The application of reconstruction and modeling techniques, based on accident flight data, has resulted in high-fidelity nonlinear aircraft and fault models to evaluate new Fault Tolerant Flight Control (FTFC) concepts and their real-time performance to accommodate in-flight failures.

Reconfigurable engineered motile semiconductor microparticles.

PubMed

Ohiri, Ugonna; Shields, C Wyatt; Han, Koohee; Tyler, Talmage; Velev, Orlin D; Jokerst, Nan

2018-05-03

Locally energized particles form the basis for emerging classes of active matter. The design of active particles has led to their controlled locomotion and assembly. The next generation of particles should demonstrate robust control over their active assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration. Here we introduce a class of semiconductor microparticles that can be comprehensively designed (in size, shape, electric polarizability, and patterned coatings) using standard microfabrication tools. These custom silicon particles draw energy from external electric fields to actively propel, while interacting hydrodynamically, and sequentially assemble and disassemble on demand. We show that a number of electrokinetic effects, such as dielectrophoresis, induced charge electrophoresis, and diode propulsion, can selectively power the microparticle motions and interactions. The ability to achieve on-demand locomotion, tractable fluid flows, synchronized motility, and reversible assembly using engineered silicon microparticles may enable advanced applications that include remotely powered microsensors, artificial muscles, reconfigurable neural networks and computational systems.

Nanopatterning reconfigurable magnetic landscapes via thermally assisted scanning probe lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albisetti, E.; Petti, D.; Pancaldi, M.; Madami, M.; Tacchi, S.; Curtis, J.; King, W. P.; Papp, A.; Csaba, G.; Porod, W.; Vavassori, P.; Riedo, E.; Bertacco, R.

2016-06-01

The search for novel tools to control magnetism at the nanoscale is crucial for the development of new paradigms in optics, electronics and spintronics. So far, the fabrication of magnetic nanostructures has been achieved mainly through irreversible structural or chemical modifications. Here, we propose a new concept for creating reconfigurable magnetic nanopatterns by crafting, at the nanoscale, the magnetic anisotropy landscape of a ferromagnetic layer exchange-coupled to an antiferromagnetic layer. By performing localized field cooling with the hot tip of a scanning probe microscope, magnetic structures, with arbitrarily oriented magnetization and tunable unidirectional anisotropy, are reversibly patterned without modifying the film chemistry and topography. This opens unforeseen possibilities for the development of novel metamaterials with finely tuned magnetic properties, such as reconfigurable magneto-plasmonic and magnonic crystals. In this context, we experimentally demonstrate spatially controlled spin wave excitation and propagation in magnetic structures patterned with the proposed method.

Nanopatterned reconfigurable spin-textures for magnonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albisetti, E.; Petti, D.; Pancaldi, M.; Madami, M.; Tacchi, S.; Curtis, J.; King, W. P.; Papp, A.; Csaba, G.; Porod, W.; Vavassori, P.; Riedo, E.; Bertacco, R.

The control of spin-waves holds the promise to enable energy-efficient information transport and wave-based computing. Conventionally, the engineering of spin-waves is achieved via physically patterning magnetic structures such as magnonic crystals and micro-nanowires. We demonstrate a new concept for creating reconfigurable magnonic nanostructures, by crafting at the nanoscale the magnetic anisotropy landscape of a ferromagnet exchange-coupled to an antiferromagnet. By performing a highly localized field cooling with the hot tip of a scanning probe microscope, magnetic structures, with arbitrarily oriented magnetization and tunable unidirectional anisotropy, are patterned without modifying the film chemistry and topography. We demonstrate that, in such structures, the spin-wave excitation and propagation can be spatially controlled at remanence, and can be tuned by external magnetic fields. This opens the way to the use of nanopatterned spin-textures, such as domains and domain walls, for exciting and manipulating magnons in reconfigurable nanocircuits. Partially funded by the EC through project SWING (no. 705326).

Nanopatterning reconfigurable magnetic landscapes via thermally assisted scanning probe lithography.

PubMed

Albisetti, E; Petti, D; Pancaldi, M; Madami, M; Tacchi, S; Curtis, J; King, W P; Papp, A; Csaba, G; Porod, W; Vavassori, P; Riedo, E; Bertacco, R

2016-06-01

The search for novel tools to control magnetism at the nanoscale is crucial for the development of new paradigms in optics, electronics and spintronics. So far, the fabrication of magnetic nanostructures has been achieved mainly through irreversible structural or chemical modifications. Here, we propose a new concept for creating reconfigurable magnetic nanopatterns by crafting, at the nanoscale, the magnetic anisotropy landscape of a ferromagnetic layer exchange-coupled to an antiferromagnetic layer. By performing localized field cooling with the hot tip of a scanning probe microscope, magnetic structures, with arbitrarily oriented magnetization and tunable unidirectional anisotropy, are reversibly patterned without modifying the film chemistry and topography. This opens unforeseen possibilities for the development of novel metamaterials with finely tuned magnetic properties, such as reconfigurable magneto-plasmonic and magnonic crystals. In this context, we experimentally demonstrate spatially controlled spin wave excitation and propagation in magnetic structures patterned with the proposed method.

Voltage-Controlled Reconfigurable Spin-Wave Nanochannels and Logic Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rana, Bivas; Otani, YoshiChika

2018-01-01

Propagating spin waves (SWs) promise to be a potential information carrier in future spintronics devices with lower power consumption. Here, we propose reconfigurable nanochannels (NCs) generated by voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) in an ultrathin ferromagnetic waveguide for SW propagation. Numerical micromagnetic simulations are performed to demonstrate the confinement of magnetostatic forward volumelike spin waves in NCs by VCMA. We demonstrate that the NCs, with a width down to a few tens of a nanometer, can be configured either into a straight or curved structure on an extended SW waveguide. The key advantage is that either a single NC or any combination of a number of NCs can be easily configured by VCMA for simultaneous propagation of SWs either with the same or different wave vectors according to our needs. Furthermore, we demonstrate the logic operation of a voltage-controlled magnonic xnor and universal nand gate and propose a voltage-controlled reconfigurable SW switch for the development of a multiplexer and demultiplexer. We find that the NCs and logic devices can even be functioning in the absence of the external-bias magnetic field. These results are a step towards the development of all-voltage-controlled magnonic devices with an ultralow power consumption.

Archeological and Historic Cultural Resources Inventory for a Proposed Flood Control Project at Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-10-01

Chautauqua Association signed a contract with J.H. McCulloch to secure a right-of- way for the Chautauqua Railway. McCulloch received a 30 year franchise in...excavation at Bakery of U.S. military fort Palo Duro St. Park, TX; Test excavation at historic dugout Sea Rim State Park, TX; Archaeological survey San

Cardio-Pulmonary Response to Shock.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-30

attenuated by inhibition of Tx synthesis . These data indicate that the prostanoids exert direct and indirect acticns in moderating c function...identified as the circulating negative inotropic agent whose production is stimulated by PG synthesis during PEEP. - The large amount of prostacyclin...127 ml - in controls (p < 0.05). The importance of WBC Tx synthesis in the induction of permeability was tested by stimulating isolated WBC with the

Reconfigurable multivariable control law for commercial airplane using a direct digital output feedback design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ostroff, A. J.; Hueschen, R. M.

1984-01-01

The ability of a pilot to reconfigure the control surfaces on an airplane after a failure, allowing the airplane to recover to a safe condition for landing, becomes more difficult with increasing airplane complexity. Techniques are needed to stabilize and control the airplane immediately after a failure, allowing the pilot time to make longer range decisions. This paper shows a design of a discrete multivariable control law using four controls for the longitudinal channel of a B-737. Single control element failures are allowed in three of the four controls. The four controls design and failure cases are analyzed by means of a digital airplane simulation, with regard to tracking capability and ability to overcome severe windshear and turbulence during the aproach and landing phase of flight.

Interior view of the Flight Deck looking forward, the Commander's ...

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

Interior view of the Flight Deck looking forward, the Commander's seat and controls are on the left and the pilot's seat and controls are on the right of the view. Note that the flight deck windows have protective covers over them in this view. This images can be digitally stitched with image HAER No. TX-116-A-20 to expand the view to include the overhead control panels of the flight deck. This view was taken in the Orbiter Processing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center. - Space Transportation System, Orbiter Discovery (OV-103), Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX

A Modular, Reconfigurable Surveillance UAV Architecture

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-09-02

Una Società Galileo Avionica A Modular, Reconfigurable Surveillance UAV Architecture METEOR, Finmeccanica Group Zona Industriale di Soleschiano Via...ES) METEOR, Finmeccanica Group Zona Industriale di Soleschiano Via Mario Stoppani 21 34077 Ronchi dei Legionari (GO) ITALY 8. PERFORMING...PMSFMS RS1Backup FMS NSU Payload Control Actuators Router Router RS2 Recovery Devices Una Società Galileo Avionica • Daylight TV Camera • IR Sensor • HR

Intelligent Control for Future Autonomous Distributed Sensor Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-26

recognized, the use of a pre-computed reconfiguration solution that fits the recognized scenario could allow reconfiguration to take place without...This data was loaded into the program developed to visualize the seabed and then the simulation was performed using frames to denote the target...to generate separate images for each eye. Users wear lightweight, inexpensive polarized eyeglasses and see a stereoscopic image. 35 Fig. 10

Optimal management of reconfigurable manufacturing system modeling with Petri nets developed three-dimensional - RPD3D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teodor, F.; Marinescu, V.; Epureanu, A.

2016-11-01

Modeling of reconfigurable manufacturing systems would have done using existing Petri net types, but the complexity and dynamics of the new manufacturing system, mainly data reconfiguration feature, required looking for a more compact representation with many variables that to model as accurately not only the normal operation of the production system but can capture and model and reconfiguration process. Thus, it was necessary to create a new class of Petri nets, called RPD3D (Developed Petri nets with three dimensional) showing the name of both lineage (new class derived from Petri nets developed, created in 2000 by Prof. Dr. Ing Vasile Marinescu in his doctoral thesis) [1], but the most important of the new features defining (transformation from one 2D model into a 3D model).The idea was to introduce the classical model of a Petri third dimension to be able to overlay multiple levels (layers) formed in 2D or 3D Petri nets that interact with each other (receiving or giving commands to enable or disable the various modules together simulating the operation of reconfigurable manufacturing systems). The aim is to present a new type of Petri nets called RPD3D - Developed Petri three-dimensional model used for optimal control and simulation of reconfigurable manufacturing systems manufacture of products such systems.

Identifying Model-Based Reconfiguration Goals through Functional Deficiencies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benazera, Emmanuel; Trave-Massuyes, Louise

2004-01-01

Model-based diagnosis is now advanced to the point autonomous systems face some uncertain and faulty situations with success. The next step toward more autonomy is to have the system recovering itself after faults occur, a process known as model-based reconfiguration. After faults occur, given a prediction of the nominal behavior of the system and the result of the diagnosis operation, this paper details how to automatically determine the functional deficiencies of the system. These deficiencies are characterized in the case of uncertain state estimates. A methodology is then presented to determine the reconfiguration goals based on the deficiencies. Finally, a recovery process interleaves planning and model predictive control to restore the functionalities in prioritized order.

High-speed free-space based reconfigurable card-to-card optical interconnects with broadcast capability.

PubMed

Wang, Ke; Nirmalathas, Ampalavanapillai; Lim, Christina; Skafidas, Efstratios; Alameh, Kamal

2013-07-01

In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a free-space based high-speed reconfigurable card-to-card optical interconnect architecture with broadcast capability, which is required for control functionalities and efficient parallel computing applications. Experimental results show that 10 Gb/s data can be broadcast to all receiving channels for up to 30 cm with a worst-case receiver sensitivity better than -12.20 dBm. In addition, arbitrary multicasting with the same architecture is also investigated. 10 Gb/s reconfigurable point-to-point link and multicast channels are simultaneously demonstrated with a measured receiver sensitivity power penalty of ~1.3 dB due to crosstalk.

Reconfiguration of a smart surface using heteroclinic connections

PubMed Central

McInnes, Colin R.; Xu, Ming

2017-01-01

A reconfigurable smart surface with multiple equilibria is presented, modelled using discrete point masses and linear springs with geometric nonlinearity. An energy-efficient reconfiguration scheme is then investigated to connect equal-energy unstable (but actively controlled) equilibria. In principle, zero net energy input is required to transition the surface between these unstable states, compared to transitions between stable equilibria across a potential barrier. These transitions between equal-energy unstable states, therefore, form heteroclinic connections in the phase space of the problem. Moreover, the smart surface model developed can be considered as a unit module for a range of applications, including modules which can aggregate together to form larger distributed smart surface systems. PMID:28265191

Automatic HDL firmware generation for FPGA-based reconfigurable measurement and control systems with mezzanines in FMC standard

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wojenski, Andrzej; Kasprowicz, Grzegorz; Pozniak, Krzysztof T.; Romaniuk, Ryszard

2013-10-01

The paper describes a concept of automatic firmware generation for reconfigurable measurement systems, which uses FPGA devices and measurement cards in FMC standard. Following sections are described in details: automatic HDL code generation for FPGA devices, automatic communication interfaces implementation, HDL drivers for measurement cards, automatic serial connection between multiple measurement backplane boards, automatic build of memory map (address space), automatic generated firmware management. Presented solutions are required in many advanced measurement systems, like Beam Position Monitors or GEM detectors. This work is a part of a wider project for automatic firmware generation and management of reconfigurable systems. Solutions presented in this paper are based on previous publication in SPIE.

Reconfigurable microwave photonic in-phase and quadrature detector for frequency agile radar.

PubMed

Emami, Hossein; Sarkhosh, Niusha

2014-06-01

A microwave photonic in-phase and quadrature detector is conceived and practically demonstrated. The detector has the ability to become electronically reconfigured to operate at any frequency over a wide range. This makes it an excellent candidate for frequency agile radars and other electronic warfare systems based on frequency hopping. The detector exhibits a very low amplitude and phase imbalance, which removes the need for any imbalance compensation technique. The system is designed based on the transversal filtering concept and reconfigurability is achieved via wavelength control in a dispersive fiber. The system operation was demonstrated over a frequency range of 3.5-35 GHz, with a maximum of -32 dB amplitude imbalance.

Hardware Evolution of Control Electronics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gwaltney, David; Steincamp, Jim; Corder, Eric; King, Ken; Ferguson, M. I.; Dutton, Ken

2003-01-01

The evolution of closed-loop motor speed controllers implemented on the JPL FPTA2 is presented. The response of evolved controller to sinusoidal commands, controller reconfiguration for fault tolerance,and hardware evolution are described.

Hypersensitive prostaglandin and thromboxane response to hormones in rabbit colitis

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

Zipser, R.D.; Patterson, J.B.; Kao, H.W.

1985-10-01

Inflammation of the colon is associated with increased production of prostaglandins (PG) and thromboxanes (Tx), and these eicosanoids may contribute to the inflammatory, secretory, and motility dysfunctions in colitis. To evaluate the potential role of peptide hormones in the enhanced eicosanoid release, colitis was established in rabbits by a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to dinitrochlorobenzene and by an immune-complex-mediated reaction. PG and Tx were identified in the venous effluent of isolated perfused colons by radiochromatography after ( UC)arachidonic acid prelabeling, as well as by bioassay, and then quantitated by immunoassay. The two colitis models were morphologically similar. Basal release of PGE2,more » PGI2, and TxA2 was two- to threefold greater from colitis tissue than from control tissue. Bradykinin (BK) and angiotensin II (ANG II) increased release of UC-labeled eicosanoids, whereas several gastrointestinal hormones had no effect. In control colons, BK and ANG II increased PGE2 and PGI2 release (by about 2-fold) but did not alter TxA2. In contrast, BK and ANG II markedly exaggerated the release of eicosanoids in colitis. Since BK and possibly ANG II are increased at sites of inflammation, the hypersensitive eicosanoid response to these peptides may augment the eicosanoid-mediated manifestations of colitis.« less

Multi-static networked 3D ladar for surveillance and access control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Y.; Ogirala, S. S. R.; Hu, B.; Le, Han Q.

2007-04-01

A theoretical design and simulation of a 3D ladar system concept for surveillance, intrusion detection, and access control is described. It is a non-conventional system architecture that consists of: i) multi-static configuration with an arbitrarily scalable number of transmitters (Tx's) and receivers (Rx's) that form an optical wireless code-division-multiple-access (CDMA) network, and ii) flexible system architecture with modular plug-and-play components that can be deployed for any facility with arbitrary topology. Affordability is a driving consideration; and a key feature for low cost is an asymmetric use of many inexpensive Rx's in conjunction with fewer Tx's, which are generally more expensive. The Rx's are spatially distributed close to the surveyed area for large coverage, and capable of receiving signals from multiple Tx's with moderate laser power. The system produces sensing information that scales as NxM, where N, M are the number of Tx's and Rx's, as opposed to linear scaling ~N in non-network system. Also, for target positioning, besides laser pointing direction and time-of-flight, the algorithm includes multiple point-of-view image fusion and triangulation for enhanced accuracy, which is not applicable to non-networked monostatic ladars. Simulation and scaled model experiments on some aspects of this concept are discussed.

Urinary prostaglandin excretion in pregnancy: the effect of dietary sodium restriction.

PubMed

Delemarre, F M; Thomas, C M; van den Berg, R J; Jongsma, H W; Steegers, E A

2000-10-01

Dietary sodium restriction results in activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system. In the non-pregnant situation renin release in response to a low sodium diet is mediated by prostaglandins. We studied the effect of dietary sodium restriction on urinary prostaglandin metabolism in pregnancy. In a randomized, longitudinal study the excretion of urinary metabolites of prostacyclin (6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)) and thromboxane A(2)(TxB(2)and 2,3-dinor-TxB(2)) was determined throughout pregnancy and post partum in 12 women on a low sodium diet and in 12 controls. In pregnancy the excretion of all urinary prostaglandins is increased. The 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)/ TxB(2)-ratio as well as the 2, 3-dinor-6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)/ 2,3-dinor-TxB(2)-ratio did not significantly change in pregnancy. CONCLUISION Prostacyclin and thromboxane do not seem to play an important role in sodium balance during pregnancy. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Electrically switchable metadevices via graphene

PubMed Central

Balci, Osman; Kakenov, Nurbek; Karademir, Ertugrul; Balci, Sinan; Cakmakyapan, Semih; Polat, Emre O.; Caglayan, Humeyra; Özbay, Ekmel; Kocabas, Coskun

2018-01-01

Metamaterials bring subwavelength resonating structures together to overcome the limitations of conventional materials. The realization of active metadevices has been an outstanding challenge that requires electrically reconfigurable components operating over a broad spectrum with a wide dynamic range. However, the existing capability of metamaterials is not sufficient to realize this goal. By integrating passive metamaterials with active graphene devices, we demonstrate a new class of electrically controlled active metadevices working in microwave frequencies. The fabricated active metadevices enable efficient control of both amplitude (>50 dB) and phase (>90°) of electromagnetic waves. In this hybrid system, graphene operates as a tunable Drude metal that controls the radiation of the passive metamaterials. Furthermore, by integrating individually addressable arrays of metadevices, we demonstrate a new class of spatially varying digital metasurfaces where the local dielectric constant can be reconfigured with applied bias voltages. In addition, we reconfigure resonance frequency of split-ring resonators without changing its amplitude by damping one of the two coupled metasurfaces via graphene. Our approach is general enough to implement various metamaterial systems that could yield new applications ranging from electrically switchable cloaking devices to adaptive camouflage systems. PMID:29322094

Adaptive and mobile ground sensor array.

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

Holzrichter, Michael Warren; O'Rourke, William T.; Zenner, Jennifer

The goal of this LDRD was to demonstrate the use of robotic vehicles for deploying and autonomously reconfiguring seismic and acoustic sensor arrays with high (centimeter) accuracy to obtain enhancement of our capability to locate and characterize remote targets. The capability to accurately place sensors and then retrieve and reconfigure them allows sensors to be placed in phased arrays in an initial monitoring configuration and then to be reconfigured in an array tuned to the specific frequencies and directions of the selected target. This report reviews the findings and accomplishments achieved during this three-year project. This project successfully demonstrated autonomousmore » deployment and retrieval of a payload package with an accuracy of a few centimeters using differential global positioning system (GPS) signals. It developed an autonomous, multisensor, temporally aligned, radio-frequency communication and signal processing capability, and an array optimization algorithm, which was implemented on a digital signal processor (DSP). Additionally, the project converted the existing single-threaded, monolithic robotic vehicle control code into a multi-threaded, modular control architecture that enhances the reuse of control code in future projects.« less

Active model-based balancing strategy for self-reconfigurable batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouchhima, Nejmeddine; Schnierle, Marc; Schulte, Sascha; Birke, Kai Peter

2016-08-01

This paper describes a novel balancing strategy for self-reconfigurable batteries where the discharge and charge rates of each cell can be controlled. While much effort has been focused on improving the hardware architecture of self-reconfigurable batteries, energy equalization algorithms have not been systematically optimized in terms of maximizing the efficiency of the balancing system. Our approach includes aspects of such optimization theory. We develop a balancing strategy for optimal control of the discharge rate of battery cells. We first formulate the cell balancing as a nonlinear optimal control problem, which is modeled afterward as a network program. Using dynamic programming techniques and MATLAB's vectorization feature, we solve the optimal control problem by generating the optimal battery operation policy for a given drive cycle. The simulation results show that the proposed strategy efficiently balances the cells over the life of the battery, an obvious advantage that is absent in the other conventional approaches. Our algorithm is shown to be robust when tested against different influencing parameters varying over wide spectrum on different drive cycles. Furthermore, due to the little computation time and the proved low sensitivity to the inaccurate power predictions, our strategy can be integrated in a real-time system.

Optically controlled switch-mode current-source amplifiers for on-coil implementation in high field parallel transmission

PubMed Central

Gudino, Natalia; Duan, Qi; de Zwart, Jacco A; Murphy-Boesch, Joe; Dodd, Stephen J; Merkle, Hellmut; van Gelderen, Peter; Duyn, Jeff H

2015-01-01

Purpose We tested the feasibility of implementing parallel transmission (pTX) for high field MRI using a radiofrequency (RF) amplifier design to be located on or in the immediate vicinity of a RF transmit coil. Method We designed a current-source switch-mode amplifier based on miniaturized, non-magnetic electronics. Optical RF carrier and envelope signals to control the amplifier were derived, through a custom-built interface, from the RF source accessible in the scanner control. Amplifier performance was tested by benchtop measurements as well as with imaging at 7 T (300 MHz) and 11.7 T (500 MHz). The ability to perform pTX was evaluated by measuring inter-channel coupling and phase adjustment in a 2-channel setup. Results The amplifier delivered in excess of 44 W RF power and caused minimal interference with MRI. The interface derived accurate optical control signals with carrier frequencies ranging from 64 to 750 MHz. Decoupling better than 14 dB was obtained between 2 coil loops separated by only 1 cm. Application to MRI was demonstrated by acquiring artifact-free images at 7 T and 11.7 T. Conclusion An optically controlled miniaturized RF amplifier for on-coil implementation at high field is demonstrated that should facilitate implementation of high-density pTX arrays. PMID:26256671

Wideband Monolithic Tile for Reconfigurable Phased Arrays

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-01

has been developed for Reconfigurable Phased Array applications. Low loss and high isolation interconnection of switches within the radiating...there is no ground to connect shunt elements to. An integral part of the design was bias control. Mesa resistors are used for biasing. MIM...highest in resistance had the best performance over bandwidth because of reduced capacitive loading of the “off” arms of the Quad Switch on the central

Dynamics and Control of a Quadrotor with Active Geometric Morphing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallace, Dustin A.

Quadrotors are manufactured in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and performance levels to fulfill a multitude of roles. Robodub Inc. has patented a morphing quadrotor which will allow active reconfiguration between various shapes for performance optimization across a wider spectrum of roles. The dynamics of the system are studied and modeled using Newtonian Mechanics. Controls are developed and simulated using both Linear Quadratic and Numerical Nonlinear Optimal control for a symmetric simplificiation of the system dynamics. Various unique vehicle capabilities are investigated, including novel single-throttle flight control using symmetric geometric morphing, as well as recovery from motor loss by reconfiguring into a trirotor configuration. The system dynamics were found to be complex and highly nonlinear. All attempted control strategies resulted in controllability, suggesting further research into each may lead to multiple viable control strategies for a physical prototype.

V-band electronically reconfigurable metamaterial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radisic, Vesna; Hester, Jimmy G.; Nguyen, Vinh N.; Caira, Nicholas W.; DiMarzio, Donald; Hilgeman, Theodore; Larouche, Stéphane; Kaneshiro, Eric; Gutierrez-Aitken, Augusto

2017-04-01

In this work, we report on a reconfigurable V-band metamaterial fabricated using an InP heterojunction bipolar transistor production process. As designed and fabricated, the implementation uses complementary split ring resonators (cSRRs) and Schottky diodes in both single unit cell and three unit cell monolithic microwave integrated circuits. Each unit cell has two diodes embedded within the gaps of the cSRRs. Reconfigurability is achieved by applying an external bias that turns the diodes on and off, which effectively controls the resonant property of the structure. In order to measure the metamaterial properties, the unit cells are fed and followed by transmission lines. Measured data show good agreement with simulations and demonstrate that the metamaterial structure exhibits resonance at around 65 GHz that can be switched on and off. The three-unit cell transmission line metamaterial shows a deeper resonance and a larger phase change than a single cell, as expected. These are the first reported reconfigurable metamaterials operating at the V-band using the InP high speed device fabrication process.

Self-Reconfigurable Robots

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

HENSINGER, DAVID M.; JOHNSTON, GABRIEL A.; HINMAN-SWEENEY, ELAINE M.

2002-10-01

A distributed reconfigurable micro-robotic system is a collection of unlimited numbers of distributed small, homogeneous robots designed to autonomously organize and reorganize in order to achieve mission-specified geometric shapes and functions. This project investigated the design, control, and planning issues for self-configuring and self-organizing robots. In the 2D space a system consisting of two robots was prototyped and successfully displayed automatic docking/undocking to operate dependently or independently. Additional modules were constructed to display the usefulness of a self-configuring system in various situations. In 3D a self-reconfiguring robot system of 4 identical modules was built. Each module connects to its neighborsmore » using rotating actuators. An individual component can move in three dimensions on its neighbors. We have also built a self-reconfiguring robot system consisting of 9-module Crystalline Robot. Each module in this robot is actuated by expansion/contraction. The system is fully distributed, has local communication (to neighbors) capabilities and it has global sensing capabilities.« less

Printed Antennas Made Reconfigurable by Use of MEMS Switches

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simons, Rainee N.

2005-01-01

A class of reconfigurable microwave antennas now undergoing development comprise fairly conventional printed-circuit feed elements and radiating patches integrated with novel switches containing actuators of the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) type. In comparison with solid-state electronic control devices incorporated into some prior printed microwave antennas, the MEMS-based switches in these antennas impose lower insertion losses and consume less power. Because the radio-frequency responses of the MEMS switches are more nearly linear, they introduce less signal distortion. In addition, construction and operation are simplified because only a single DC bias line is needed to control each MEMS actuator.

Statechart-based design controllers for FPGA partial reconfiguration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Łabiak, Grzegorz; Wegrzyn, Marek; Rosado Muñoz, Alfredo

2015-09-01

Statechart diagram and UML technique can be a vital part of early conceptual modeling. At the present time there is no much support in hardware design methodologies for reconfiguration features of reprogrammable devices. Authors try to bridge the gap between imprecise UML model and formal HDL description. The key concept in author's proposal is to describe the behavior of the digital controller by statechart diagrams and to map some parts of the behavior into reprogrammable logic by means of group of states which forms sequential automaton. The whole process is illustrated by the example with experimental results.

Guidance and control of swarms of spacecraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgan, Daniel James

There has been considerable interest in formation flying spacecraft due to their potential to perform certain tasks at a cheaper cost than monolithic spacecraft. Formation flying enables the use of smaller, cheaper spacecraft that distribute the risk of the mission. Recently, the ideas of formation flying have been extended to spacecraft swarms made up of hundreds to thousands of 100-gram-class spacecraft known as femtosatellites. The large number of spacecraft and limited capabilities of each individual spacecraft present a significant challenge in guidance, navigation, and control. This dissertation deals with the guidance and control algorithms required to enable the flight of spacecraft swarms. The algorithms developed in this dissertation are focused on achieving two main goals: swarm keeping and swarm reconfiguration. The objectives of swarm keeping are to maintain bounded relative distances between spacecraft, prevent collisions between spacecraft, and minimize the propellant used by each spacecraft. Swarm reconfiguration requires the transfer of the swarm to a specific shape. Like with swarm keeping, minimizing the propellant used and preventing collisions are the main objectives. Additionally, the algorithms required for swarm keeping and swarm reconfiguration should be decentralized with respect to communication and computation so that they can be implemented on femtosats, which have limited hardware capabilities. The algorithms developed in this dissertation are concerned with swarms located in low Earth orbit. In these orbits, Earth oblateness and atmospheric drag have a significant effect on the relative motion of the swarm. The complicated dynamic environment of low Earth orbits further complicates the swarm-keeping and swarm-reconfiguration problems. To better develop and test these algorithms, a nonlinear, relative dynamic model with J2 and drag perturbations is developed. This model is used throughout this dissertation to validate the algorithms using computer simulations. The swarm-keeping problem can be solved by placing the spacecraft on J2-invariant relative orbits, which prevent collisions and minimize the drift of the swarm over hundreds of orbits using a single burn. These orbits are achieved by energy matching the spacecraft to the reference orbit. Additionally, these conditions can be repeatedly applied to minimize the drift of the swarm when atmospheric drag has a large effect (orbits with an altitude under 500 km). The swarm reconfiguration is achieved using two steps: trajectory optimization and assignment. The trajectory optimization problem can be written as a nonlinear, optimal control problem. This optimal control problem is discretized, decoupled, and convexified so that the individual femtosats can efficiently solve the optimization. Sequential convex programming is used to generate the control sequences and trajectories required to safely and efficiently transfer a spacecraft from one position to another. The sequence of trajectories is shown to converge to a Karush-Kuhn-Tucker point of the nonconvex problem. In the case where many of the spacecraft are interchangeable, a variable-swarm, distributed auction algorithm is used to determine the assignment of spacecraft to target positions. This auction algorithm requires only local communication and all of the bidding parameters are stored locally. The assignment generated using this auction algorithm is shown to be near optimal and to converge in a finite number of bids. Additionally, the bidding process is used to modify the number of targets used in the assignment so that the reconfiguration can be achieved even when there is a disconnected communication network or a significant loss of agents. Once the assignment is achieved, the trajectory optimization can be run using the terminal positions determined by the auction algorithm. To implement these algorithms in real time a model predictive control formulation is used. Model predictive control uses a finite horizon to apply the most up-to-date control sequence while simultaneously calculating a new assignment and trajectory based on updated state information. Using a finite horizon allows collisions to only be considered between spacecraft that are near each other at the current time. This relaxes the all-to-all communication assumption so that only neighboring agents need to communicate. Experimental validation is done using the formation flying testbed. The swarm-reconfiguration algorithms are tested using multiple quadrotors. Experiments have been performed using sequential convex programming for offline trajectory planning, model predictive control and sequential convex programming for real-time trajectory generation, and the variable-swarm, distributed auction algorithm for optimal assignment. These experiments show that the swarm-reconfiguration algorithms can be implemented in real time using actual hardware. In general, this dissertation presents guidance and control algorithms that maintain and reconfigure swarms of spacecraft while maintaining the shape of the swarm, preventing collisions between the spacecraft, and minimizing the amount of propellant used.

Thromboxane Mediation of Cardiopulmonary Effects of Embolism

PubMed Central

Utsunomiya, Takayoshi; Krausz, Michael M.; Levine, Lawrence; Shepro, David; Hechtman, Herbert B.

1982-01-01

Humoral factors released from platelets during pulmonary embolism may be the cause of several attendant cardiopulmonary abnormalities. This study examines the role of thromboxanes (Tx) after experimental embolism induced with 0.5 g/kg autologous clot in four groups of five dogs: (a) untreated embolized controls; (b) pretreatment with the Tx synthetase inhibitor, imidazole 25 mg/kg · h i.v., starting 30 min before embolization; (c) pretreatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, 5 mg/kg, 12 h per os and 1 mg/kg, 1 h i.v. before the experiment; (d) treatment with prostacyclin (PGI2) 100 ηg/kg · min i.v. for 1 h, 1 h after embolization. Within 30 min, embolization led to increases of 6-keto-PGF1α, the stable hydrolysis product of PGI2, from 0.11±0.08 ηg/ml (mean±SD) to 0.33±0.10 ηg/ml (P < 0.005) and TxB2, the stable product of TxA2, from 0.10±0.04 ηg/ml to 0.38±0.06 ηg/ml (P < 0.001). Increases were observed in total dead space (VD/VT) from 0.46±0.03 to 0.61±0.08 (P < 0.025, physiologic shunting (Q̇S/Q̇T) from 16±4% to 38±9% (P < 0.01), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) from 2.27±0.59 mm Hg·min/liter to 9.21±1.90 mm Hg·min/liter (P < 0.005) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure from 14±6 mm Hg to 34±1 mm Hg (P < 0.001). Cardiac index (CI) fell from 139±11 ml/kg·min to 95±17 ml/kg·min in 4 h (P < 0.025). Imidazole pretreatment prevented a rise of TxB2, but not 6-keto-PGF1α; indomethacin blocked both. Both agents maintained VD/VT at base line and limited increases in Q̇S/Q̇T and PVR. CI was higher after imidazole pretreatment compared with controls (P < 0.025). Indomethacin led to intermediate levels of CI. PGI2 lowered TxB2 (P < 0.025), VD/VT (P < 0.025), Q̇S/Q̇T (P < 0.025) and PVR (P < 0.05) within 30 min. During PGI2 infusion, CI was higher than controls. Concentrations of TxB2 correlated with VD/VT, r = 0.79 and Q̇S/Q̇T, r = 0.69 (P < 0.001). Treatment of three dogs with the imidazole derivative ketoconazole, 10 mg/kg IV, 30 min after 0.75 g/kg autologous clot resulted in a lowering of physiologic dead space, but no other improvement of cardiopulmonary function. These results show that a number of cardiopulmonary abnormalities induced by pulmonary embolism are related directly or indirectly to platelet secretions and that VD/VT is closely allied to TxA2 levels. PMID:6284801

Airborne Advanced Reconfigurable Computer System (ARCS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bjurman, B. E.; Jenkins, G. M.; Masreliez, C. J.; Mcclellan, K. L.; Templeman, J. E.

1976-01-01

A digital computer subsystem fault-tolerant concept was defined, and the potential benefits and costs of such a subsystem were assessed when used as the central element of a new transport's flight control system. The derived advanced reconfigurable computer system (ARCS) is a triple-redundant computer subsystem that automatically reconfigures, under multiple fault conditions, from triplex to duplex to simplex operation, with redundancy recovery if the fault condition is transient. The study included criteria development covering factors at the aircraft's operation level that would influence the design of a fault-tolerant system for commercial airline use. A new reliability analysis tool was developed for evaluating redundant, fault-tolerant system availability and survivability; and a stringent digital system software design methodology was used to achieve design/implementation visibility.

A switchable magnetic low-index metamaterial for use in a dynamically reconfigurable beam-scanning lens antenna with a single feed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turpin, Jeremiah Paul

Metamaterials and Transformation Optics (TO) have been used to design and implement many novel electromagnetic devices that can achieve effects not possible using conventional materials. Compact high-gain antennas are one of the more popular and successful emerging applications for the new TO and metamaterial design approaches. This dissertation details an extension of uniaxial near-zero-index metamaterial lenses through the incorporation of a tunable or reconfigurable metamaterial as a replacement for the static metamaterial of the original antenna. A design is presented for a beam-scanning TO lens that allows an arbitrary number of beams at controlled magnitudes to be dynamically synthesized from a single omnidirectional source, unlike the equivalent antenna constructed using an array. A cylindrical slab of zero-index magnetic metamaterial controls the radiation pattern by altering the effective shape of the lens through switching of selected regions 'off' to emulate free-space conditions. A design for a switchable metamaterial is presented that allows for digital control over its bulk properties, from near-zero-index to near-free-space at the targeted operational frequency. Extensive modeling and simulations were performed for the design of the lens and metamaterial and during the analysis of measurement results. Initial prototypes of the tunable metamaterial were fabricated and characterized to confirm the original measurements, and the design updated to incorporate the measured data. These measurements were performed using custom test fixtures manufactured specifically for this project. Finally, a simplified prototype lens was manufactured and characterized in an anechoic as a proof-of-concept for the design. This dissertation presents the lens and metamaterial specifications, as well as the design process and considerations that were determined for practical tunable and reconfigurable metamaterials. Although the focus is on the particular example of the beam-scanning reconfigurable antenna, the analysis and modeling methods presented here are applicable to any reconfigurable metamaterial application.

78 FR 72914 - Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-04

.... Forest Hill, Hill, TX 76119. 3219 California Parkway, Forest Hill, TX 76119. Travis City of Austin (13..., Austin, TX Road, 12th 78767. Floor, Austin, TX 78704. Travis Unincorporated The Honorable Travis County..., 700 Austin, TX 78767. Lavaca Street, 5th Floor, Suite 540, Austin, TX 78701. Williamson City of...

Hanford Single Shell Tank Leak Causes and Locations - 241-TX Farm

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

Girardot, C. L.; Harlow, D> G.

This document identifies 241-TX Tank Farm (TX Farm) leak causes and locations for the 100 series leaking tanks (241-TX-107 and 241-TX-114) identified in RPP-RPT-50870, Rev. 0, Hanford 241-TX Farm Leak Inventory Assessment Report. This document satisfies the TX Farm portion of the target (T04) in the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order milestone M-045-91F.

Nonlinear dispersion-based incoherent photonic processing for microwave pulse generation with full reconfigurability.

PubMed

Bolea, Mario; Mora, José; Ortega, Beatriz; Capmany, José

2012-03-12

A novel all-optical technique based on the incoherent processing of optical signals using high-order dispersive elements is analyzed for microwave arbitrary pulse generation. We show an approach which allows a full reconfigurability of a pulse in terms of chirp, envelope and central frequency by the proper control of the second-order dispersion and the incoherent optical source power distribution, achieving large values of time-bandwidth product.

[Advanced Development for Space Robotics With Emphasis on Fault Tolerance Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tesar, Delbert

1997-01-01

This report describes work developing fault tolerant redundant robotic architectures and adaptive control strategies for robotic manipulator systems which can dynamically accommodate drastic robot manipulator mechanism, sensor or control failures and maintain stable end-point trajectory control with minimum disturbance. Kinematic designs of redundant, modular, reconfigurable arms for fault tolerance were pursued at a fundamental level. The approach developed robotic testbeds to evaluate disturbance responses of fault tolerant concepts in robotic mechanisms and controllers. The development was implemented in various fault tolerant mechanism testbeds including duality in the joint servo motor modules, parallel and serial structural architectures, and dual arms. All have real-time adaptive controller technologies to react to mechanism or controller disturbances (failures) to perform real-time reconfiguration to continue the task operations. The developments fall into three main areas: hardware, software, and theoretical.

Intrinsic Hardware Evolution for the Design and Reconfiguration of Analog Speed Controllers for a DC Motor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gwaltney, David A.; Ferguson, Michael I.

2003-01-01

Evolvable hardware provides the capability to evolve analog circuits to produce amplifier and filter functions. Conventional analog controller designs employ these same functions. Analog controllers for the control of the shaft speed of a DC motor are evolved on an evolvable hardware platform utilizing a second generation Field Programmable Transistor Array (FPTA2). The performance of an evolved controller is compared to that of a conventional proportional-integral (PI) controller. It is shown that hardware evolution is able to create a compact design that provides good performance, while using considerably less functional electronic components than the conventional design. Additionally, the use of hardware evolution to provide fault tolerance by reconfiguring the design is explored. Experimental results are presented showing that significant recovery of capability can be made in the face of damaging induced faults.

A Triple-Loop Inductive Power Transmission System for Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Lee, Byunghun; Kiani, Mehdi; Ghovanloo, Maysam

2016-02-01

A triple-loop wireless power transmission (WPT) system equipped with closed-loop global power control, adaptive transmitter (Tx) resonance compensation (TRC), and automatic receiver (Rx) resonance tuning (ART) is presented. This system not only opposes coupling and load variations but also compensates for changes in the environment surrounding the inductive link to enhance power transfer efficiency (PTE) in applications such as implantable medical devices (IMDs). The Tx was built around a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, operating at 13.56 MHz. A local Tx loop finds the optimal capacitance in parallel with the Tx coil by adjusting a varactor. A global power control loop maintains the received power at a desired level in the presence of changes in coupling distance, coil misalignments, and loading. Moreover, a local Rx loop is implemented inside a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) to avoid PTE degradation due to the Rx coil surrounding environment and process variations. The PMIC was fabricated in a 0.35- μm 4M2P standard CMOS process with 2.54 mm(2) active area. Measurement results show that the proposed triple-loop system improves the overall PTE by up to 10.5% and 4.7% compared to a similar open- and single closed-loop system, respectively, at nominal coil distance of 2 cm. The added TRC and ART loops contribute 2.3% and 1.4% to the overall PTE of 13.5%, respectively. This is the first WPT system to include three loops to dynamically compensate for environment and circuit variations and improve the overall power efficiency all the way from the driver output in Tx to the load in Rx.

The REJOICE trial: a phase 3 randomized, controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of a novel vaginal estradiol soft-gel capsule for symptomatic vulvar and vaginal atrophy

PubMed Central

Constantine, Ginger D.; Simon, James A.; Pickar, James H.; Archer, David F.; Kushner, Harvey; Bernick, Brian; Gasper, Gina; Graham, Shelli; Mirkin, Sebastian

2017-01-01

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of TX-004HR vaginal estradiol soft-gel capsules for moderate-to-severe dyspareunia associated with postmenopausal vulvar and vaginal atrophy. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study, postmenopausal women with a self-identified most bothersome symptom of dyspareunia received 4, 10, or 25 μg TX-004HR or placebo for 12 weeks. Four co-primary efficacy endpoints were change from baseline to week 12 in percentages of superficial and parabasal cells, vaginal pH, and severity of dyspareunia. Secondary endpoints included severity of vaginal dryness and vulvar and/or vaginal itching or irritation. Endometrial histology and adverse events (AEs) were included in the safety endpoints. Results: In all, 764 women were randomized (modified intent-to-treat population, n = 747; mean age 59 y). Compared with placebo, all three doses of TX-004HR significantly improved the four co-primary endpoints (P < 0.0001 for all, except dyspareunia with 4 μg, P = 0.0149). Changes in cytology, pH, and dyspareunia were also significant at weeks 2, 6, and 8. Vaginal dryness and vaginal itching/irritation improved. Sex hormone binding globulin concentrations did not change with treatment. TX-004HR was well-tolerated, with no clinically meaningful differences in treatment-emergent AEs versus placebo, and no treatment-related serious AEs or deaths. Conclusions: TX-004HR (4, 10, and 25 μg) was safe, well-tolerated, and effective for treating moderate-to-severe dyspareunia within 2 weeks with minimal systemic estrogen exposure. This novel product may be a potential new treatment option for women experiencing postmenopausal vulvar and vaginal atrophy. PMID:27922936

Restructurable Controls

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, R. J. (Compiler); Howell, W. E. (Compiler); Bundick, W. T. (Compiler); Ostroff, A. J. (Compiler); Hueschen, R. M. (Compiler); Belcastro, C. M. (Compiler)

1983-01-01

Restructurable control system theory, robust reconfiguration for high reliability and survivability for advanced aircraft, restructurable controls problem definition and research, experimentation, system identification methods applied to aircraft, a self-repairing digital flight control system, and state-of-the-art theory application are addressed.

Dynamically reconfigurable complex emulsions via tunable interfacial tensions

PubMed Central

Zarzar, Lauren D.; Sresht, Vishnu; Sletten, Ellen M.; Kalow, Julia A.; Blankschtein, Daniel; Swager, Timothy M.

2015-01-01

Emulsification is a powerful, well-known technique for mixing and dispersing immiscible components within a continuous liquid phase. Consequently, emulsions are central components of medicine, food and performance materials. Complex emulsions, including multiple emulsions and Janus droplets which contain hemispheres of differing material, are of increasing importance1 in pharmaceuticals and medical diagnostics2, in the fabrication of microparticles and capsules3–5 for food6, in chemical separations7, in cosmetics8, and in dynamic optics9. Because complex emulsion properties and functions are related to the droplet geometry and composition, the development of rapid, simple fabrication approaches allowing precise control over the droplets’ physical and chemical characteristics is critical. Significant advances in the fabrication of complex emulsions have been made using a number of procedures, ranging from large-scale, less precise techniques that give compositional heterogeneity using high-shear mixers and membranes10, to small-volume but more precise microfluidic methods11,12. However, such approaches have yet to create droplet morphologies that can be controllably altered after emulsification. Reconfigurable complex liquids potentially have greatly increased utility as dynamically tunable materials. Here we describe an approach to the one-step fabrication of three- and four-phase complex emulsions with highly controllable and reconfigurable morphologies. The fabrication makes use of the temperature-sensitive miscibility of hydrocarbon, silicone and fluorocarbon liquids, and is applied to both the microfluidic and the scalable batch production of complex droplets. We demonstrate that droplet geometries can be alternated between encapsulated and Janus configurations by varying the interfacial tensions using hydrocarbon and fluorinated surfactants including stimuli-responsive and cleavable surfactants. This yields a generalizable strategy for the fabrication of multiphase emulsions with controllably reconfigurable morphologies and the potential to create a wide range of responsive materials. PMID:25719669

Dynamically reconfigurable complex emulsions via tunable interfacial tensions.

PubMed

Zarzar, Lauren D; Sresht, Vishnu; Sletten, Ellen M; Kalow, Julia A; Blankschtein, Daniel; Swager, Timothy M

2015-02-26

Emulsification is a powerful, well-known technique for mixing and dispersing immiscible components within a continuous liquid phase. Consequently, emulsions are central components of medicine, food and performance materials. Complex emulsions, including Janus droplets (that is, droplets with faces of differing chemistries) and multiple emulsions, are of increasing importance in pharmaceuticals and medical diagnostics, in the fabrication of microparticles and capsules for food, in chemical separations, in cosmetics, and in dynamic optics. Because complex emulsion properties and functions are related to the droplet geometry and composition, the development of rapid, simple fabrication approaches allowing precise control over the droplets' physical and chemical characteristics is critical. Significant advances in the fabrication of complex emulsions have been made using a number of procedures, ranging from large-scale, less precise techniques that give compositional heterogeneity using high-shear mixers and membranes, to small-volume but more precise microfluidic methods. However, such approaches have yet to create droplet morphologies that can be controllably altered after emulsification. Reconfigurable complex liquids potentially have great utility as dynamically tunable materials. Here we describe an approach to the one-step fabrication of three- and four-phase complex emulsions with highly controllable and reconfigurable morphologies. The fabrication makes use of the temperature-sensitive miscibility of hydrocarbon, silicone and fluorocarbon liquids, and is applied to both the microfluidic and the scalable batch production of complex droplets. We demonstrate that droplet geometries can be alternated between encapsulated and Janus configurations by varying the interfacial tensions using hydrocarbon and fluorinated surfactants including stimuli-responsive and cleavable surfactants. This yields a generalizable strategy for the fabrication of multiphase emulsions with controllably reconfigurable morphologies and the potential to create a wide range of responsive materials.

Dynamically reconfigurable complex emulsions via tunable interfacial tensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarzar, Lauren D.; Sresht, Vishnu; Sletten, Ellen M.; Kalow, Julia A.; Blankschtein, Daniel; Swager, Timothy M.

2015-02-01

Emulsification is a powerful, well-known technique for mixing and dispersing immiscible components within a continuous liquid phase. Consequently, emulsions are central components of medicine, food and performance materials. Complex emulsions, including Janus droplets (that is, droplets with faces of differing chemistries) and multiple emulsions, are of increasing importance in pharmaceuticals and medical diagnostics, in the fabrication of microparticles and capsules for food, in chemical separations, in cosmetics, and in dynamic optics. Because complex emulsion properties and functions are related to the droplet geometry and composition, the development of rapid, simple fabrication approaches allowing precise control over the droplets' physical and chemical characteristics is critical. Significant advances in the fabrication of complex emulsions have been made using a number of procedures, ranging from large-scale, less precise techniques that give compositional heterogeneity using high-shear mixers and membranes, to small-volume but more precise microfluidic methods. However, such approaches have yet to create droplet morphologies that can be controllably altered after emulsification. Reconfigurable complex liquids potentially have great utility as dynamically tunable materials. Here we describe an approach to the one-step fabrication of three- and four-phase complex emulsions with highly controllable and reconfigurable morphologies. The fabrication makes use of the temperature-sensitive miscibility of hydrocarbon, silicone and fluorocarbon liquids, and is applied to both the microfluidic and the scalable batch production of complex droplets. We demonstrate that droplet geometries can be alternated between encapsulated and Janus configurations by varying the interfacial tensions using hydrocarbon and fluorinated surfactants including stimuli-responsive and cleavable surfactants. This yields a generalizable strategy for the fabrication of multiphase emulsions with controllably reconfigurable morphologies and the potential to create a wide range of responsive materials.

Urinary Virome Perturbations in Kidney Transplantation.

PubMed

Sigdel, Tara K; Mercer, Neil; Nandoe, Sharvin; Nicora, Carrie D; Burnum-Johnson, Kristin; Qian, Wei-Jun; Sarwal, Minnie M

2018-01-01

The human microbiome is important for health and plays a role in essential metabolic functions and protection from certain pathogens. Conversely, dysbiosis of the microbiome is seen in the context of various diseases. Recent studies have highlighted that a complex microbial community containing hundreds of bacteria colonizes the healthy urinary tract, but little is known about the human urinary viruses in health and disease. To evaluate the human urinary virome in the context of kidney transplantation (tx), variations in the composition of the urinary virome were evaluated in urine samples from normal healthy volunteers as well as patients with kidney disease after they had undergone kidney tx. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analysis was undertaken on a selected cohort of 142 kidney tx patients and normal healthy controls, from a larger biobank of 770 kidney biopsy matched urine samples. In addition to analysis of normal healthy control urine, the cohort of kidney tx patients had biopsy confirmed phenotype classification, coincident with the urine sample analyzed, of stable grafts (STA), acute rejection, BK virus nephritis, and chronic allograft nephropathy. We identified 37 unique viruses, 29 of which are being identified for the first time in human urine samples. The composition of the human urinary virome differs in health and kidney injury, and the distribution of viral proteins in the urinary tract may be further impacted by IS exposure, diet and environmental, dietary, or cutaneous exposure to various insecticides and pesticides.

Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and Power Systems ...

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

Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and Power Systems - Space Transportation System, Orbiter Discovery (OV-103), Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX

The purification step is not crucial in EIA measurements of thromboxane B2 and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 in human plasma.

PubMed

Sadilkova, Lenka; Paluch, Zoltan; Mottlova, Jirina; Bednar, Frantisek; Alusik, Stefan

2012-01-01

Thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and particularly 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dTxB2) are widely used as prognostic risk markers of platelet activation in cardiovascular diseases. The main errors in TxB2 and 11-dTxB2 determination include either low concentrations of circulating TxB2 (1 - 2 pg/mL) and 11-dTxB2 (0.9 - 4.3 pg/mL) or rather high transiency (mean TxB2 half-life is approximately 5 minutes) as well as an incorrect pre-analytical phase set up. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a widely used purification step on the results of enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA)--based measurement of the two selected thromboxanes. For the purpose of this study, 20 plasma samples (10 healthy donors, 10 patients under treatment with acetylsalicylic acid) were screened for TxB2 and 11-dTxB2 concentrations using commercial competitive EIA kits (Cayman Chemicals, Tallinn, Estonia; Neogen, Lexington, KY, USA) with or without the introduction of the purification procedure. The purification step does not significantly affect the results of EIA measurements of the two of TxA2 metabolites (TxB2, 11-dTxB2) in human plasma. The levels of TxB2 and 11-dTxB2 determined in the plasma samples were not significantly changed (p < 0.05) when the purification step was omitted compared to the purified samples. This study establishes a protocol allowing for reliable and reproducible plasma TxB2 and 11-dTxB2 EIA measurement for routine basic screening of platelet function.

Applicability of the 2-nitroimidazole-sodium borocaptate-10B conjugate, TX-2060, as a 10B-carrier in boron neutron capture therapy.

PubMed

Masunaga, Shin-Ichiro; Nagasawa, Hideko; Hiraoka, Masamitsu; Sakurai, Yoshinori; Uto, Yoshihiro; Hori, Hitoshi; Nagata, Kenji; Suzuki, Minoru; Maruhashi, Akira; Kinashi, Yuko; Ono, Koji

2004-01-01

It is difficult to deliver a therapeutic amount of 10B from conventional 10B-carriers for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) throughout the target tumors, especially into the intratumor hypoxic cells which have low uptake capacities. We evaluated the usefulness of 5 new 10B-compounds (TX-2041, TX-2042, TX-2058, TX-2059 and TX-2060) as 10B-carriers in BNCT. They are 2-nitroimidazole-sodium borocaptate-10B (BSH) conjugates, that is, hybrid compounds that have both a hypoxic tumor cell sensitizing unit under gamma-ray irradiation, 2-nitroimidazoles and a thermal neutron-sensitizing unit, BSH. The 5 new compounds were administered to SCC VII tumor-bearing mice intraperitoneally. As a control, BSH was also administered in the same manner. Then, the 10B concentrations in the tumors and normal tissues were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. Based on the data of the pharmacokinetics analyses, TX-2060 was chosen for a subsequent tumor-irradiation study. SCC VII tumor-bearing mice were continuously given 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label all proliferating (P) cells in the tumors, then treated with TX-2060 or BSH in the same manner as in the pharmacokinetics analyses. To obtain similar intratumor 10B concentrations during radiation exposure, irradiation with thermal neutrons or gamma-rays was started from 60 min after administration of the 10B-carrier. Right after irradiation, the tumors were excised, minced and trypsinized. The tumor cell suspensions thus obtained were incubated with cytochalasin-B (a cytokinesis blocker), and the micronucleus (MN) frequency in cells without BrdU-labelling (= quiescent (Q) cells) was determined using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU. Meanwhile, the MN frequency in total (P + Q) tumor cells was determined from the tumors that were not pretreated with BrdU. The clonogenic cell survival was also determined in mice given no BrdU. 10B distribution analyses in tumors, muscles, blood and liver indicated that TX-2060 has the most favorable characteristics for concentrating a sufficient amount of 10B in tumors and maintaining a high enough 10B concentration during irradiation. In addition, TX-2060 had a significantly stronger radio-sensitization effect with reactor thermal neutron beams than BSH on both total and Q cells in solid tumors. Further, TX-2060 clearly exhibited a radio-sensitization effect with gamma-rays, not only on total cells but also on Q and hypoxic tumor cells, which was not achieved by BSH. 10B-carrier, with a gamma-ray-sensitizing effect on tumor cells as well as the potential to keep 10B in tumors and sensitize tumor cells more markedly than conventional 10B-carriers, such as TX-2060, is a promising candidate for use in BNCT.

Reconfigurable work station for a video display unit and keyboard

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shields, Nicholas L. (Inventor); Roe, Fred D., Jr. (Inventor); Fagg, Mary F. (Inventor); Henderson, David E. (Inventor)

1988-01-01

A reconfigurable workstation is described having video, keyboard, and hand operated motion controller capabilities. The workstation includes main side panels between which a primary work panel is pivotally carried in a manner in which the primary work panel may be adjusted and set in a negatively declined or positively inclined position for proper forearm support when operating hand controllers. A keyboard table supports a keyboard in such a manner that the keyboard is set in a positively inclined position with respect to the negatively declined work panel. Various adjustable devices are provided for adjusting the relative declinations and inclinations of the work panels, tables, and visual display panels.

Development of Multi-Legged Walking Robot Using Reconfigurable Modular Design and Biomimetic Control Architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xuedong; Sun, Yi; Huang, Qingjiu; Jia, Wenchuan; Pu, Huayan

This paper focuses on the design of a modular multi-legged walking robot MiniQuad-I, which can be reconfigured into variety configurations, including quadruped and hexapod configurations for different tasks by changing the layout of modules. Critical design considerations when taking the adaptability, maintainability and extensibility in count simultaneously are discussed and then detailed designs of each module are presented. The biomimetic control architecture of MiniQuad-I is proposed, which can improve the capability of agility and independence of the robot. Simulations and experiments on crawling, object picking and obstacle avoiding are performed to verify functions of the MiniQuad-I.

Electromagnetic reprogrammable coding-metasurface holograms.

PubMed

Li, Lianlin; Jun Cui, Tie; Ji, Wei; Liu, Shuo; Ding, Jun; Wan, Xiang; Bo Li, Yun; Jiang, Menghua; Qiu, Cheng-Wei; Zhang, Shuang

2017-08-04

Metasurfaces have enabled a plethora of emerging functions within an ultrathin dimension, paving way towards flat and highly integrated photonic devices. Despite the rapid progress in this area, simultaneous realization of reconfigurability, high efficiency, and full control over the phase and amplitude of scattered light is posing a great challenge. Here, we try to tackle this challenge by introducing the concept of a reprogrammable hologram based on 1-bit coding metasurfaces. The state of each unit cell of the coding metasurface can be switched between '1' and '0' by electrically controlling the loaded diodes. Our proof-of-concept experiments show that multiple desired holographic images can be realized in real time with only a single coding metasurface. The proposed reprogrammable hologram may be a key in enabling future intelligent devices with reconfigurable and programmable functionalities that may lead to advances in a variety of applications such as microscopy, display, security, data storage, and information processing.Realizing metasurfaces with reconfigurability, high efficiency, and control over phase and amplitude is a challenge. Here, Li et al. introduce a reprogrammable hologram based on a 1-bit coding metasurface, where the state of each unit cell of the coding metasurface can be switched electrically.

Minimal time change detection algorithm for reconfigurable control system and application to aerospace

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Sungwan

1994-01-01

System parameters should be tracked on-line to build a reconfigurable control system even though there exists an abrupt change. For this purpose, a new performance index that we are studying is the speed of adaptation- how quickly does the system determine that a change has occurred? In this paper, a new, robust algorithm that is optimized to minimize the time delay in detecting a change for fixed false alarm probability is proposed. Simulation results for the aircraft lateral motion with a known or unknown change in control gain matrices, in the presence of doublet input, indicate that the algorithm works fairly well. One of its distinguishing properties is that detection delay of this algorithm is superior to that of Whiteness Test.

Methods and apparatus for controlling dispersions of nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Lavrentovich, Oleg D; Golovin, Andrii B

2014-10-21

Electrically reconfigurable metamaterial with spatially varied refractive index is proposed for applications such as optical devices and lenses. The apparatus and method comprises a metamaterial in which the refractive indices are modified in space and time by applying one or more electric fields. The metamaterials are electrically controllable and reconfigurable, and consist of metal (gold, silver, etc.) particles of different shapes, such as rods, with dimension much smaller than the wavelength of light, dispersed in a dielectric medium. The metamaterial is controlled by applying a non-uniform electric field that causes two effects: (1) It aligns the metallic anisometric particles with respect to the direction of the applied electric field and (2) It redistributes particles in space, making their local concentration position dependent.

Operator procedure verification with a rapidly reconfigurable simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iwasaki, Yumi; Engelmore, Robert; Fehr, Gary; Fikes, Richard

1994-01-01

Generating and testing procedures for controlling spacecraft subsystems composed of electro-mechanical and computationally realized elements has become a very difficult task. Before a spacecraft can be flown, mission controllers must envision a great variety of situations the flight crew may encounter during a mission and carefully construct procedures for operating the spacecraft in each possible situation. If, despite extensive pre-compilation of control procedures, an unforeseen situation arises during a mission, the mission controller must generate a new procedure for the flight crew in a limited amount of time. In such situations, the mission controller cannot systematically consider and test alternative procedures against models of the system being controlled, because the available simulator is too large and complex to reconfigure, run, and analyze quickly. A rapidly reconfigurable simulation environment that can execute a control procedure and show its effects on system behavior would greatly facilitate generation and testing of control procedures both before and during a mission. The How Things Work project at Stanford University has developed a system called DME (Device Modeling Environment) for modeling and simulating the behavior of electromechanical devices. DME was designed to facilitate model formulation and behavior simulation of device behavior including both continuous and discrete phenomena. We are currently extending DME for use in testing operator procedures, and we have built a knowledge base for modeling the Reaction Control System (RCS) of the space shuttle as a testbed. We believe that DME can facilitate design of operator procedures by providing mission controllers with a simulation environment that meets all these requirements.

Research on NC motion controller based on SOPC technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Tingbiao; Meng, Biao

2006-11-01

With the rapid development of the digitization and informationization, the application of numerical control technology in the manufacturing industry becomes more and more important. However, the conventional numerical control system usually has some shortcomings such as the poor in system openness, character of real-time, cutability and reconfiguration. In order to solve these problems, this paper investigates the development prospect and advantage of the application in numerical control area with system-on-a-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) technology, and puts forward to a research program approach to the NC controller based on SOPC technology. Utilizing the characteristic of SOPC technology, we integrate high density logic device FPGA, memory SRAM, and embedded processor ARM into a single programmable logic device. We also combine the 32-bit RISC processor with high computing capability of the complicated algorithm with the FPGA device with strong motivable reconfiguration logic control ability. With these steps, we can greatly resolve the defect described in above existing numerical control systems. For the concrete implementation method, we use FPGA chip embedded with ARM hard nuclear processor to construct the control core of the motion controller. We also design the peripheral circuit of the controller according to the requirements of actual control functions, transplant real-time operating system into ARM, design the driver of the peripheral assisted chip, develop the application program to control and configuration of FPGA, design IP core of logic algorithm for various NC motion control to configured it into FPGA. The whole control system uses the concept of modular and structured design to develop hardware and software system. Thus the NC motion controller with the advantage of easily tailoring, highly opening, reconfigurable, and expandable can be implemented.

A Reconfiguration Scheme for Accommodating Actuator Failures in Multi-Input, Multi-Output Flight Control Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siwakosit, W.; Hess, R. A.; Bacon, Bart (Technical Monitor); Burken, John (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

A multi-input, multi-output reconfigurable flight control system design utilizing a robust controller and an adaptive filter is presented. The robust control design consists of a reduced-order, linear dynamic inversion controller with an outer-loop compensation matrix derived from Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT). A principle feature of the scheme is placement of the adaptive filter in series with the QFT compensator thus exploiting the inherent robustness of the nominal flight control system in the presence of plant uncertainties. An example of the scheme is presented in a pilot-in-the-loop computer simulation using a simplified model of the lateral-directional dynamics of the NASA F18 High Angle of Attack Research Vehicle (HARV) that included nonlinear anti-wind up logic and actuator limitations. Prediction of handling qualities and pilot-induced oscillation tendencies in the presence of these nonlinearities is included in the example.

Daylight Redirecting Window Film

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

Fort Bliss , TX; Clovis Vaughn and Andrew Burton at 29 Palms, CA; Doug Taber at Naval Post Graduate School (NPS), Monterey; and Mitch Hailey at Naval...Agarwal and Tim Perry for their immense contribution to this project. Finally, throughout the project, the guidance and counseling of Vern Novstrup at...and control) VA Norfolk Z-133 1 1 1 6 72 48 120 CA 29 Palms 1416 5 7 14 13 108 31 62 RI Newport Hewitt Hall 2 5 9 19 88 24 40 TX Fort Bliss

Antimicrobial and physical characteristics of orthodontic primers containing antimicrobial agents.

PubMed

Chung, Shin-Hye; Cho, Soha; Kim, Kyungsun; Lim, Bum-Soon; Ahn, Sug-Joon

2017-03-01

To compare the antimicrobial and physical properties of experimental primers containing chlorhexidine (CHX) or ursolic acid (UA) with a commercial primer. Two antibacterial agents, 3 mg each of CHX and UA were incorporated respectively into 1 ml of Transbond XT primer (TX) to form antibacterial primers, TX-CHX and TX-UA. The antimicrobial activity of the three primers (TX, TX-CHX, and TX-UA) against Streptococcus mutans in both planktonic and biofilm phases was analyzed by determining minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations and by performing growth and biofilm assays. Growth and biofilm assays were performed in both the absence and presence of thermocycling in a water tank to analyze the effects of water aging on the antimicrobial activities of primers. After bonding brackets onto bovine incisors using the primers, shear bond strength and mode of fracture were analyzed to compare physical properties. TX-CHX had stronger antimicrobial activity against S. mutans in the planktonic and biofilm phases than did TX or TX-UA. When applied, TX-CHX completely inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans . In addition, the antimicrobial activity of TX-CHX was maintained after thermocycling. However, TX-UA did not show significant antimicrobial activity compared with TX. There was no significant difference in either shear bond strength or bond failure interface among the primers. Incorporation of CHX into an orthodontic primer may help prevent enamel demineralization around surfaces without compromising its physical properties.

Comparative studies of the endonucleases from two related Xenopus laevis retrotransposons, Tx1L and Tx2L: target site specificity and evolutionary implications.

PubMed

Christensen, S; Pont-Kingdon, G; Carroll, D

2000-01-01

In the genome of the South African frog, Xenopus laevis, there are two complex families of transposable elements, Tx1 and Tx2, that have identical overall structures, but distinct sequences. In each family there are approximately 1500 copies of an apparent DNA-based element (Tx1D and Tx2D). Roughly 10% of these elements in each family are interrupted by a non-LTR retrotransposon (Tx1L and Tx2L). Each retrotransposon is flanked by a 23-bp target duplication of a specific D element sequence. In earlier work, we showed that the endonuclease domain (Tx1L EN) located in the second open reading frame (ORF2) of Tx1L encodes a protein that makes a single-strand cut precisely at the expected site within its target sequence, supporting the idea that Tx1L is a site-specific retrotransposon. In this study, we express the endonuclease domain of Tx2L (Tx2L EN) and compare the target preferences of the two enzymes. Each endonuclease shows some preference for its cognate target, on the order of 5-fold over the non-cognate target. The observed discrimination is not sufficient, however, to explain the observation that no cross-occupancy is observed - that is, L elements of one family have never been found within D elements of the other family. Possible sources of additional specificity are discussed. We also compare two hypotheses regarding the genome duplication event that led to the contemporary pseudotetraploid character of Xenopus laevis in light of the Tx1L and Tx2L data.

TxACOL workshop : Texas asphalt concrete overlay design and analysis system.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-01-01

General Information: : -Two workshops were held respectively on Aug. 25 at Paris, Tx and on Oct. 6 at Austin, Tx, : -More than 30 representatives from TxDOT attended, : -Introduction of TxACOL software, key input parameters, and related lab and field...

Tamoxifen induces apoptotic neutrophil efferocytosis in horses.

PubMed

Olave, C; Morales, N; Uberti, B; Henriquez, C; Sarmiento, J; Ortloff, A; Folch, H; Moran, G

2018-03-01

Macrophages and neutrophils are important cellular components in the process of acute inflammation and its subsequent resolution, and evidence increasingly suggests that they play important functions during the resolution of chronic, adaptive inflammatory processes. Exacerbated neutrophil activity can be harmful to surrounding tissues; this is important in a range of diseases, including allergic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in humans, and equine asthma (also known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Tamoxifen (TX) is a non-steroidal estrogen receptor modulator with effects on cell growth and survival. Previous studies showed that TX treatment in horses with induced acute pulmonary inflammation promoted early apoptosis of blood and BALF neutrophils, reduction of BALF neutrophils, and improvement in animals' clinical status. The aim of this study was to describe if TX induces in vitro efferocytosis of neutrophils by alveolar macrophages. Efferocytosis assay, myeloperoxidase (MPO) detection and translocation phosphatidylserine (PS) were performed on neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood samples from five healthy horses. In in vitro samples from heathy horses, TX treatment increases the phenomenon of efferocytosis of peripheral neutrophils by alveolar macrophages. Similar increases in supernatant MPO concentration and PS translocation were observed in TX-treated neutrophils, compared to control cells. In conclusion, these results confirm that tamoxifen has a direct effect on equine peripheral blood neutrophils, through stimulation of the engulfment of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages.

Supplementation of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol is useful to preventing bone loss linked to oxidative stress in elderly.

PubMed

Ruiz-Ramos, M; Vargas, L Alberto; Fortoul Van der Goes, T I; Cervantes-Sandoval, A; Mendoza-Nunez, V M

2010-06-01

To determine the effect of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol on oxidative stress and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly people. A double-blind, controlled clinical assay was carried out in a sample of 90 elderly subjects divided into three age-paired random groups with 30 subjects in each group. Group Tx0 received placebo, group Tx1 received 500 mg of ascorbic acid and 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol, whereas group Tx2 received 1,000 mg of ascorbic acid and 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol, for a 12-month period. We measured thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutation peroxidase (GPx); BMD was obtained on DXA of hip and spine before and after the 12-month treatment period with supplementation of vitamins C and E. We found a positive correlation between hip-BMD and SOD (r = 0.298, p < 0.05) and GPx (r = 0.214, p < 0.05). Also, a significantly lower decrease of LPO (p < 0.05) was observed as linked with hip bone loss in the Tx2 group than in the Tx0 group. Our findings suggest that that administration of 1,000 mg of ascorbic acid together with 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol could be useful in preventing or aiding in the treatment of age-related osteoporosis.

Wilson disease: changes in methionine metabolism and inflammation affect global DNA methylation in early liver disease

PubMed Central

Medici, Valentina; Shibata, Noreene M.; Kharbanda, Kusum K.; LaSalle, Janine M.; Woods, Rima; Liu, Sarah; Engelberg, Jesse A.; Devaraj, Sridevi; Török, Natalie J.; Jiang, Joy X.; Havel, Peter J.; Lönnerdal, Bo; Kim, Kyoungmi; Halsted, Charles H.

2012-01-01

Hepatic methionine metabolism may play an essential role in regulating methylation status and liver injury in Wilson disease (WD) through the inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) by copper (Cu) and the consequent accumulation of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). We studied the transcript levels of selected genes related to liver injury, levels of SAHH, SAH, DNA methyltransferases genes (Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b) and global DNA methylation in the tx-j mouse (tx-j), an animal model of WD. Findings were compared to those in control C3H mice, and in response to Cu chelation by penicillamine (PCA) and dietary supplementation of the methyl donor betaine to modulate inflammatory and methylation status. Transcript levels of selected genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, lipid synthesis, and fatty acid oxidation were down-regulated at baseline in tx-j mice, further down-regulated in response to PCA, and showed little to no response to betaine. Hepatic Sahh transcript and protein levels were reduced in tx-j mice with consequent increase of SAH levels. Hepatic Cu accumulation was associated with inflammation, as indicated by histopathology and elevated serum ALT and liver tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnf-α) levels. Dnmt3b was down-regulated in tx-j mice together with global DNA hypomethylation. PCA treatment of tx-j mice reduced Tnf-α and ALT levels, betaine treatment increased S-adenosylmethionine and up-regulated Dnmt3b levels, and both treatments restored global DNA methylation levels. Conclusion: reduced hepatic Sahh expression was associated with increased liver SAH levels in the tx-j model of WD, with consequent global DNA hypomethylation. Increased global DNA methylation was achieved by reducing inflammation by Cu chelation or by providing methyl groups. We propose that increased SAH levels and inflammation affect widespread epigenetic regulation of gene expression in WD. PMID:22945834

Inhibition by tetanus toxin of sodium-dependent, high-affinity [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine uptake in rat synaptosomes.

PubMed

Inserte, J; Najib, A; Pelliccioni, P; Gil, C; Aguilera, J

1999-01-01

Tetanus toxin (TeTx) is a powerful clostridial neurotoxin that inhibits Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter secretion as do the botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs). We found that TeTx (but not BoNT/A) produced a specific time- and dose-dependent inhibition of Na+-dependent [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin, 5-HT) uptake in rat CNS synaptosomes. This effect was found in all CNS tryptaminergic areas, being maximal in the hippocampus and occipital cortex. TeTx produced the maximum reduction in [3H]5-HT uptake after 30 min of preincubation, being significant also at lower doses (10(-12) M) or shorter incubation times (10 min). Serotonin transport inhibitors such as fenfluramine (IC50, 11.0 +/- 0.9 microM), paroxetine (IC50, 33.5 +/- 0.1 microM), and imipramine (IC50, 89.9 +/- 5.7 microM) were 3 or 4 orders of magnitude less potent than TeTx (IC50, 8.7 +/- 1.0 nM). Of the two fragments of TeTx, (the C-terminal portion of the neurotoxin heavy chain, which is responsible for the binding to the nerve tissue) was consistently more effective than the L-H(N) fragment (the light neurotoxin chain disulfide linked to the N-terminal portion of the heavy chain, which is responsible for the toxic metalloprotease action) as inhibitor of [3H]5-HT uptake in synaptosomal preparations (56 +/- 5% and 95 +/- 3% with respect to control, respectively). Antagonism of the toxin-induced [3H]5-HT uptake blockade could not be reversed by zinc chelators but did have the ability to antagonize the TeTx inhibition of basal and K+-evoked [3H]5-HT release in rat synaptosomes. The reduction in serotonin accumulation induced by TeTx could be responsible for some tetanic symptoms that have been related to the serotonergic system.

76 FR 55883 - Procurement List; Proposed Addition

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-09

... . Research Park, 2301 Research Blvd., Bldg. 4, Austin, TX. Rundberg Building, 825 E. Rundberg Lane, Austin... Break Caf[eacute], 3651 S. IH-35, Austin, TX. Connection Warehouse, 2021 East Woodward, Austin, TX. Southpark G (CSB), 1821 Directors Blvd., Austin, TX. Southpark J, 2191 Woodward, Austin, TX. Southpark K...

A Regional Prototype for Obtaining and Evaluating Disease-Specific, Community-Level Data

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-04-24

TEXAS Outlying Area GREGG TX TEXARKANA TX/ AR /OK HOUSTON TX TEXOMA TX/OK** JONESBORO AR TULSA OK KILLEEN TX ** VERNON LA** LAFAYETTE LA VICTORIA TX Next...appropriate setting and incur fewer costs for treatment (Litaker, 1996). The following questions may now be asked. How well are the communities within...and at times debilitating condition that tends to afflict young people who are otherwise healthy and productive. Migraine sufferers, who are

Application of Sliding Mode Methods to the Design of Reconfigurable Flight Control Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, Scott R.

2002-01-01

Observer-based sliding mode control is investigated for application to aircraft reconfigurable flight control. A comprehensive overview of reconfigurable flight control is given, including, a review of the current state-of-the-art within the subdisciplines of fault detection, parameter identification, adaptive control schemes, and dynamic control allocation. Of the adaptive control methods reviewed, sliding mode control (SMC) appears very promising due its property of invariance to matched uncertainty. An overview of sliding mode control is given and its remarkable properties are demonstrated by example. Sliding mode methods, however, are difficult to implement because unmodeled parasitic dynamics cause immediate and severe instability. This presents a challenge for all practical applications with limited bandwidth actuators. One method to deal with parasitic dynamics is the use of an asymptotic observer in the feedback path. Observer-based SMC is investigated, and a method for selecting observer gains is offered. An additional method for shaping the feedback loop using a filter is also developed. It is shown that this SMC prefilter is equivalent to a form of model reference hedging. A complete design procedure is given which takes advantage of the sliding mode boundary layer to recast the SMC as a linear control law. Frequency domain loop shaping is then used to design the sliding manifold. Finally, three aircraft applications are demonstrated. An F-18/HARV is used to demonstrate a SISO pitch rate tracking controller. It is also used to demonstrate a MIMO lateral-directional roll rate tracking controller. The last application is a full linear six degree-of-freedom advanced tailless fighter model. The observer-based SMC is seen to provide excellent tracking with superior robustness to parameter changes and actuator failures.

Osmotic-pressure-controlled concentration of colloidal particles in thin-shelled capsules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Shin-Hyun; Park, Jin-Gyu; Choi, Tae Min; Manoharan, Vinothan N.; Weitz, David A.

2014-01-01

Colloidal crystals are promising structures for photonic applications requiring dynamic control over optical properties. However, for ease of processing and reconfigurability, the crystals should be encapsulated to form ‘ink’ capsules rather than confined in a thin film. Here we demonstrate a class of encapsulated colloidal photonic structures whose optical properties can be controlled through osmotic pressure. The ordering and separation of the particles within the microfluidically created capsules can be tuned by changing the colloidal concentration through osmotic pressure-induced control of the size of the individual capsules, modulating photonic stop band. The rubber capsules exhibit a reversible change in the diffracted colour, depending on osmotic pressure, a property we call osmochromaticity. The high encapsulation efficiency and capsule uniformity of this microfluidic approach, combined with the highly reconfigurable shapes and the broad control over photonic properties, make this class of structures particularly suitable for photonic applications such as electronic inks and reflective displays.

Studies on the possible role of thyroid hormone in altered muscle protein turnover during sepsis

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

Hasselgren, P.O.; Chen, I.W.; James, J.H.

Five days after thyroidectomy (Tx) or sham-Tx in young male Sprague-Dawley rats, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Control animals underwent laparotomy and manipulation of the cecum without ligation or puncture. Sixteen hours after CLP or laparotomy, protein synthesis and degradation were measured in incubated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) muscles by determining rate of /sup 14/C-phenylalanine incorporation into protein and tyrosine release into incubation medium, respectively. Triiodothyronine (T3) was measured in serum and muscle tissue. Protein synthesis was reduced by 39% and 22% in EDL and SOL, respectively, 16 hours after CLP in sham-Txmore » rats. The response to sepsis of protein synthesis was abolished in Tx rats. Protein breakdown was increased by 113% and 68% in EDL and SOL, respectively, 16 hours after CLP in sham-Tx animals. The increase in muscle proteolysis during sepsis was blunted in hypothyroid animals and was 42% and 49% in EDL and SOL, respectively. T3 in serum was reduced by sepsis, both in Tx and sham-Tx rats. T3 in muscle, however, was maintained or increased during sepsis. Abolished or blunted response of muscle protein turnover after CLP in hypothyroid animals may reflect a role of thyroid hormones in altered muscle protein metabolism during sepsis. Reduced serum levels of T3, but maintained or increased muscle concentrations of the hormone, suggests that increased T3 uptake by muscle may be one mechanism of low T3 syndrome in sepsis, further supporting the concept of a role for thyroid hormone in metabolic alterations in muscle during sepsis.« less

Out-of-pocket health-care expenditures among older Americans with cancer.

PubMed

Langa, Kenneth M; Fendrick, A Mark; Chernew, Michael E; Kabeto, Mohammed U; Paisley, Kerry L; Hayman, James A

2004-01-01

There is currently limited information regarding the out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPE) for medical care made by elderly individuals with cancer. We sought to quantify OOPE for community-dwelling individuals age 70 or older with: 1) no cancer (No CA), 2) a history of cancer, not undergoing current treatment (CA/No Tx), and 3) a history of cancer, undergoing current treatment (CA/Tx). We used data from the 1995 Asset and Health Dynamics Study, a nationally representative survey of community-dwelling elderly individuals. Respondents identified their cancer status and reported OOPE for the prior 2 years for: 1) hospital and nursing home stays, 2) outpatient services, 3) home care, and 4) prescription medications. Using a multivariable two-part regression model to control for differences in sociodemographics, living situation, functional limitations, comorbid chronic conditions, and insurance coverage, the additional cancer-related OOPE were estimated. Of the 6370 respondents, 5382 (84%) reported No CA, 812 (13%) reported CA/No Tx, and 176 (3%) reported CA/Tx. The adjusted mean annual OOPE for the No CA, CA/No Tx, and CA/Tx groups were 1210 dollars, 1450 dollars, and 1880 dollars, respectively (P < .01). Prescription medications (1120 dollars per year) and home care services (250 dollars) accounted for most of the additional OOPE associated with cancer treatment. Low-income individuals undergoing cancer treatment spent about 27% of their yearly income on OOPE compared to only 5% of yearly income for high-income individuals with no cancer history (P < .01). Cancer treatment in older individuals results in significant OOPE, mainly for prescription medications and home care services. Economic evaluations and public policies aimed at cancer prevention and treatment should take note of the significant OOPE made by older Americans with cancer.

The role of dorsomedial hypotalamus ionotropic glutamate receptors in the hypertensive and tachycardic responses evoked by Tityustoxin intracerebroventricular injection.

PubMed

Silva, F C; Guidine, Patrícia Alves Maia; Machado, Natalia Lima; Xavier, Carlos Henrique; de Menezes, R C; Moraes-Santos, Tasso; Moraes, Márcio Flávio; Chianca, Deoclécio Alves

2015-03-01

The scorpion envenoming syndrome is an important worldwide public health problem due to its high incidence and potential severity of symptoms. Some studies address the high sensitivity of the central nervous system to this toxin action. It is known that cardiorespiratory manifestations involve the activation of the autonomic nervous system. However, the origin of this modulation remains unclear. Considering the important participation of the dorsomedial hypotalamus (DMH) in the cardiovascular responses during emergencial situations, the aim of this work is to investigate the involvement of the DMH on cardiovascular responses induced by intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of Tityustoxin (TsTX, a α-type toxin extracted from the Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom). Urethane-anaesthetized male Wistar rats (n=30) were treated with PBS, muscimol or ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists, bilaterally in DMH and later, with an icv injection of TsTX, or treated only with PBS in both regions. TsTX evoked a marked increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate in all control rats. Interestingly, injection of muscimol, a GABAA receptor agonist, did not change the pressor and tachycardic responses evoked by TsTX. Remarkably, the injection ionotropic glutamate receptors antagonists in DMH abolished the pressor and the tachycardic response evoked by TsTX. Our data suggest that the central circuit recruited by TsTX, whose activation results in an array of physiological and behavioral alterations, depend on the activation of DMH ionotropic glutamate receptors. Moreover, our data provide new insights on the central mechanisms involved in the development of symptoms in the severe scorpion envenomation syndrome. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Configurable Cellular Automata for Pseudorandom Number Generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quieta, Marie Therese; Guan, Sheng-Uei

This paper proposes a generalized structure of cellular automata (CA) — the configurable cellular automata (CoCA). With selected properties from programmable CA (PCA) and controllable CA (CCA), a new approach to cellular automata is developed. In CoCA, the cells are dynamically reconfigured at run-time via a control CA. Reconfiguration of a cell simply means varying the properties of that cell with time. Some examples of properties to be reconfigured are rule selection, boundary condition, and radius. While the objective of this paper is to propose CoCA as a new CA method, the main focus is to design a CoCA that can function as a good pseudorandom number generator (PRNG). As a PRNG, CoCA can be a suitable candidate as it can pass 17 out of 18 Diehard tests with 31 cells. CoCA PRNG's performance based on Diehard test is considered superior over other CA PRNG works. Moreover, CoCA opens new rooms for research not only in the field of random number generation, but in modeling complex systems as well.

A retrospective study of Class II mixed-dentition treatment.

PubMed

Oh, Heesoo; Baumrind, Sheldon; Korn, Edward L; Dugoni, Steven; Boero, Roger; Aubert, Maryse; Boyd, Robert

2017-01-01

To consider the effectiveness of early treatment using one mixed-dentition approach to the correction of moderate and severe Class II malocclusions. Three groups of Class II subjects were included in this retrospective study: an early treatment (EarlyTx) group that first presented at age 7 to 9.5 years (n = 54), a late treatment (LateTx) group whose first orthodontic visit occurred between ages 12 and 15 (n = 58), and an untreated Class II (UnTx) group to assess the pretreatment comparability of the two treated groups (n = 51). Thirteen conventional cephalometric measurements were reported for each group and Class II molar severity was measured on the study casts of the EarlyTx and LateTx groups. Successful Class II correction was observed in approximately three quarters of both the EarlyTx group and the LateTx group at the end of treatment. EarlyTx patients had fewer permanent teeth extracted than did the LateTx patients (5.6% vs 37.9%, P < .001) and spent less time in full-bonded appliance therapy in the permanent dentition than did LateTx patients (1.7 ± 0.8 vs 2.6 ± 0.7years, P < .001). When supervision time is included, the EarlyTx group had longer total treatment time and averaged more visits than did the LateTx group (53.1 ± 18. 8 vs 33.7 ± 8.3, P < .0001). Fifty-five percent of the LateTx extraction cases involved removal of the maxillary first premolars only and were finished in a Class II molar relationship. EarlyTx comprehensive mixed-dentition treatment was an effective modality for early correction of Class II malocclusions.

77 FR 74170 - Foreign-Trade Zone 84-Houston, TX; Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Mitsubishi...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-13

..., tubes, pipes, hoses, tires, rods, containers, handles, belts), pallets, wood packing boxes, cases, other..., wrenches, hand tools, flexible tubing, engines, parts of engines, water boilers, control panels, control...

20 CFR Appendix A to Subpart F of... - U.S. Seaports

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Port, LA New Orleans, LA Beaumont, TX Brownsville, TX Corpus Christi, TX Freeport, TX Galveston, TX..., MA Fall River, MA New Bedford, MA Providence, RI Bridgeport, CT New Haven, CT New London, CT Albany, NY New York, NY/NJ Camden, NJ Gloucester City, NJ Paulsboro, NJ Chester, PA Marcus Hook, PA...

Late renal transplant failure: an adverse prognostic factor at initiation of peritoneal dialysis.

PubMed

Sasal, J; Naimark, D; Klassen, J; Shea, J; Bargman, J M

2001-01-01

Early renal transplant failure necessitating a return to dialysis has been shown to be a poor prognostic factor for survival. Little is known about the outcome of patients with late transplant failure returning to dialysis. It was our clinical impression that late transplant failure (>2 months) carries an increased morbidity and mortality risk in patients returning to dialysis. To determine whether patients with a failed renal transplant have an outcome different to those on dialysis who have never received a kidney transplant. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) unit in a teaching hospital. All failed renal transplant patients (fTx) in the Toronto Hospital Peritoneal Dialysis program between 1989 and 1996 were identified. This cohort of 42 fTx patients was compared with a cohort of randomly selected never-transplanted PD patients (non-Tx). The PD program was selected because of the availability of well-documented patient archival material. The non-Tx group was matched for age and presence of diabetes. Data were collected until retransplantation, change of dialysis modality or center, death, or until June 1998. There was no difference at initiation of PD between groups in serum albumin, residual renal function, or mean serum parathyroid hormone level. The mean low-density lipoprotein level was significantly higher in the fTx cohort. The duration of dialysis before Tx in fTx patients accounted for the increased total length of dialysis in fTx (mean 15 months). However, post-Tx the duration of PD was similar for both groups (30.7 months for fTx vs 31.6 months for non-Tx). The fTx group had a considerably worse outcome than the non-Tx group. The time to first peritonitis, subsequent episodes of peritonitis, catheter change, or transfer to hemodialysis occurred at a much faster rate in fTx patients. The most dramatic difference was in survival. There were 3 deaths in the non-Tx group and 12 in the fTx group (p < 0.01). The mean age at time of death in the fTx group was 47.5 years. Deaths were due mainly to gram-negative peritonitis and cardiovascular disease. We conclude that late failed renal transplant patients starting dialysis are at increased risk of complications and have strikingly higher mortality rates than non-Tx patients. A previously failed kidney transplant can be considered an adverse prognostic factor for patients commencing PD; these patients need to be closely monitored. Although this study was limited to PD patients, the same principles likely apply to fTx patients returning to any form of renal replacement therapy.

Interaction of Ions with Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Carbide (MXene) Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Chang

Nowadays, society is relying more on nanotechnology for solving critical issues, such as the increasing demand for clean energy and freshwater. Among nanotechnologies, two-dimensional (2D) materials with unique properties are investigated with elevated expectations. In 2011, a new family of 2D materials MXenes were discovered, which became an important addition to the 2D word. The general formula of MXene is Mn+1XnTx, where M stands for transition metal atom, X is C and/or N, n = 1, 2 or 3, and Tx represents surface groups. Nanosheets of MXene obtained by delamination can form flexible films. Additionally, ions can intercalate MXene layers, suggesting potential applications in energy storage and water purification. The Ti3C2Tx MXene films of various thicknesses, which have orderly stacked 2D structure, high density and flexibility, and metallic electrical conductivity of 2400 to 5690 S/cm were fabricated by vacuum-assisted filtration. Ti3C2Tx surface was negatively charged and hydrophilic. Additionally, Ti3C 2Tx films showed sufficient mechanical strength for handling, and the tensile strength of a Ti3C2Tx film was comparable to GO membranes. Metal cations intercalated between the MXene layers, and led to intercalation capacitance. Binder-free Ti3C 2Tx films showed volumetric capacitance of 350 to over 1000 F/cm3 in aqueous electrochemical capacitors (ECs), depending on the electrolyte, and the size of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets. Smaller flakes were obtained by increasing time of ultrasonic treatment. They had a lower electrical conductivity, but a higher capacitance. By introducing polymer nanofillers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) between MXene nanosheets, composite films were prepared and showed controllable electrical conductivity, increased interlayer spacing, improved mechanical strength and capacitive performance. By introducing carbon nanomaterials between MXene layers or creating mesopores on MXene, the films were made more accessible to intercalation and transport of ions, which enhanced the ion storage capabilities. After cation intercalation, size occupation of ions caused the expansion of MXene interlayer, while electrostatic attraction between negative MXene and cations caused contraction. Due to the narrow 2D nanochannels between MXene layers, the Ti3C2Tx membranes showed high selectivity towards metal cations and dye cations of different sizes and charges, as ion separation membranes. Additionally, MXene membranes with abundant water between layers showed fast water flux. By applying positive voltage on the Ti3C2Tx membranes, the salt (NaCl and MgSO4) permeation was accelerated, while negative voltage decelerated the permeation. In addition, Ti3C 2Tx MXene membranes as thin as 100 nm showed high rejection (over 98 %) of methylene blue dye molecules, with fast water flow through the membranes. Completion of this work opened several paths to modify and enhance the MXene films' properties, and shed light on the ions' interaction with MXenes for related applications with voltage applied or not.

Reconfigurable terahertz grating with enhanced transmission of TE polarized light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, J. W.; Wang, X. K.; Xie, Z. W.; Xue, Y. Z.; Wang, S.; Zhang, Y.

2017-07-01

We demonstrate an optically reconfigurable grating with enhanced transmission of TE-polarized waves in the terahertz (THz) waveband. This kind of grating is realized by projecting a grating image onto a thin Si wafer with a digital micromirror device (DMD). The enhanced transmission is caused by a resonance of the electromagnetic fields between the photoexcited strips. The position of the transmission peak shifts with the variation of the period and duty cycle of the photoinduced grating, which can be readily controlled by the DMD. Furthermore, a flattened Gaussian model was applied to describe the distribution of the photoexcited free carriers in the Si wafer, and the simulated transmittance spectra are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental results. In future, the photoexcited carriers could also be used to produce THz diffractive elements with reconfigurable functionality.

Spectrally reconfigurable integrated multi-spot particle trap.

PubMed

Leake, Kaelyn D; Olson, Michael A B; Ozcelik, Damla; Hawkins, Aaron R; Schmidt, Holger

2015-12-01

Optical manipulation of small particles in the form of trapping, pushing, or sorting has developed into a vast field with applications in the life sciences, biophysics, and atomic physics. Recently, there has been increasing effort toward integration of particle manipulation techniques with integrated photonic structures on self-contained optofluidic chips. Here, we use the wavelength dependence of multi-spot pattern formation in multimode interference (MMI) waveguides to create a new type of reconfigurable, integrated optical particle trap. Interfering lateral MMI modes create multiple trapping spots in an intersecting fluidic channel. The number of trapping spots can be dynamically controlled by altering the trapping wavelength. This novel, spectral reconfigurability is utilized to deterministically move single and multiple particles between different trapping locations along the channel. This fully integrated multi-particle trap can form the basis of high throughput biophotonic assays on a chip.

Thyroid Lobe Ablation with Radioactive Iodine as an Alternative to Completion Thyroidectomy After Hemithyroidectomy in Patients with Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma: Long-Term Follow-Up

PubMed Central

Goldfarb, Melanie; Parangi, Sareh; Yang, Jingyun; Ross, Douglas S.; Daniels, Gilbert H.

2012-01-01

Background Radioactive iodine lobe ablation (RAI-L-ABL) is a possible alternative to completion thyroidectomy (C-Tx) for follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), but no long-term outcome data are available after lobe ablation. We analyzed the long-term outcome of lobe ablation in a series of patients with FTC. Methods This was a retrospective study of patients who were treated with lobe ablation between 1983 and 2008. Of 134 patients with FTC, 37 (27.6%) had lobe ablation with 131I (30–32 mCi) (RAI-L-ABL), 68 (50.7%) had C-Tx, and 29 (21.6%) had initial total thyroidectomy (T-Tx). The main outcomes analyzed were 131I uptake after lobe ablation, C-Tx or T-Tx, serum thyroglobulin (Tg), serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), long-term disease-specific mortality, and disease-free survival. Results After lobe ablation, radioiodine uptake was significantly lower for the RAI-L-ABL group (0.6%) than for the C-Tx group (2.0%, p<0.005) or T-Tx group (1.3%, p=0.054). Subsequent remnant ablation was performed in 12 of 37 (32%) patients in the RAI-L-ABL group, in 58 of 68 (85.3%) patients in the C-Tx group, and in 25 of 29 (86.2%) patients in the T-Tx group (p<0.01). With median follow-up of 95 months for the RAI-L-ABL group, 47 months for the C-Tx group, and 53 months for the T-Tx group, there was one death in the RAI-L-ABL group and one death in the T-Tx group. No other RAI-L-ABL patients had detectable disease, whereas patients in the C-Tx group and two patients in the T-Tx group had detectable disease (p=0.18). Long-term stimulated or suppressed Tg of <1 ng/mL were found in 87.5% of the RAI-L-ABL group (n=28), 86.3% of the C-Tx group (n=57), and 77.8% of the T-Tx group (n=21). Tg was detectable in 40.6% of the RAI-L-ABL group compared to 13.8% of C-Tx and 28.6% of T-Tx groups (p<0.05, between groups). Conclusions RAI-L-ABL, C-Tx, and T-Tx are equally effective in achieving serum TSH concentrations of >25 mIU/L and preparing patients for conventional 131I treatment and whole body scanning with similar long-term outcomes. However, persistent measurable Tg (range 0.2–2.2 ng/mL) is more common after RAI-L-ABL. PMID:22385290

A tangent-ring optical TWDM-MAN enabling three-level transregional reconfigurations and shared protections by multipoint distributed control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gou, Kaiyu; Gan, Chaoqin; Zhang, Xiaoyu; Zhang, Yuchao

2018-03-01

An optical time-and-wavelength-division-multiplexing metro-access network (TWDM-MAN) is proposed and demonstrated in this paper. By the reuse of tangent-ring optical distribution network and the design of distributed control mechanism, ONUs needing to communicate with each other can be flexibly accessed to successfully make up three kinds of reconfigurable networks. By the nature advantage of ring topology in protection, three-level comprehensive protections covering both feeder and distribution fibers are also achieved. Besides, a distributed wavelength allocation (DWA) is designed to support efficient parallel upstream transmission. The analyses including capacity, congestion and transmission simulation show that this network has a great performance.

Apparatus and Methods for Locating Source of and Analyzing Electromagnetic Radiation

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-19

President BY: ~~~~~~~~~~~==~----- CONTRACTOR’S OFFICIAL AND TITLE Nanohmics Inc 6201 E. Oltorf St., Suite 400 Austin , TX 78741 BUSINESS ADDRESS...ANALYZING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION (71) Applicant: Nanohmics, Inc., Austin , TX (US) (72) Inventors: Byron G. Zollars, Georgetown, TX (US); Steve M...Savoy, Austin , TX (US); Michael W. Mayo, Austin , TX (US); Daniel R. Mitchell, Austin , TX (US) (21) Appl. No.: 14/531,247 (22) Filed: Nov. 3, 2014

Evaluation of Mesocyclops aspericornis (Cyclopoida:Cyclopidae) and Toxorhynchites speciosus as integrated predators of mosquitoes in tire habitats in Queensland.

PubMed

Brown, M D; Hendrikz, J K; Greenwood, J G; Kay, B H

1996-09-01

This study addressed biological control of peridomestic Aedes notoscriptus, known to be a highly effective colonizer of tire habitats and a possible vector of Ross River virus. A laboratory trial of the compatibility of the predators Mesocyclops aspericornis and Toxorhynchites speciosus in small container habitats showed that 4th-instar Tx. speciosus did not significantly affect M. aspericornis mortality. Introduced M. aspericornis and naturally occurring Tx. speciosus were found to form a compatible predator pair for reduction of larval Ae. notoscriptus and Culex quinquefasciatus populations in tire habitats. Over 22 months of field survey, 97% of tires without predators contained mosquito larvae, at a median density of 43 larvae/liter. By comparison, 51% of tires containing both predator species held mosquito larvae at a median density of 4 larvae/liter. Predation by Tx. speciosus persisted for the duration of the study. The inability of the Lake Kurwongbah strain of M. aspericornis to tolerate temperatures of < or = 10 degrees C, which are prevalent in Brisbane during winter, resulted in a failure to deliver persistent reduction of mosquitoes in tires. The temperature-dependent population characteristics of M. aspericornis emphasize the long-recognized importance of matching a biological control candidate's physiological requirements to the environment in which control is sought.

Reconfigurable fault tolerant avionics system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, M. M.; Asami, K.; Cho, Mengu

This paper presents the design of a reconfigurable avionics system based on modern Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)-based Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to be used in future generations of nano satellites. A major concern in satellite systems and especially nano satellites is to build robust systems with low-power consumption profiles. The system is designed to be flexible by providing the capability of reconfiguring itself based on its orbital position. As Single Event Upsets (SEU) do not have the same severity and intensity in all orbital locations, having the maximum at the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) and the polar cusps, the system does not have to be fully protected all the time in its orbit. An acceptable level of protection against high-energy cosmic rays and charged particles roaming in space is provided within the majority of the orbit through software fault tolerance. Check pointing and roll back, besides control flow assertions, is used for that level of protection. In the minority part of the orbit where severe SEUs are expected to exist, a reconfiguration for the system FPGA is initiated where the processor systems are triplicated and protection through Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) with feedback is provided. This technique of reconfiguring the system as per the level of the threat expected from SEU-induced faults helps in reducing the average dynamic power consumption of the system to one-third of its maximum. This technique can be viewed as a smart protection through system reconfiguration. The system is built on the commercial version of the (XC5VLX50) Xilinx Virtex5 FPGA on bulk silicon with 324 IO. Simulations of orbit SEU rates were carried out using the SPENVIS web-based software package.

75 FR 32653 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-09

... Giddings, TX, Giddings-Lee County, Takeoff Minimum and Obstacle DP, Orig Hebbronville, TX, Jim Hogg County, GPS RWY 13, Amdt 1A, CANCELLED Hebbronville, TX, Jim Hogg County, NDB RWY 13, Amdt 4 Hebbronville, TX, Jim Hogg County, RNAV (GPS) RWY 13, Orig Hebbronville, TX, Jim Hogg County, Takeoff Minimum and...

Modern traffic control devices to improve safety at rural intersections.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-12-01

"Engineers with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) frequently make changes to traffic control devices : (TCDs) to improve intersection safety. To use available funds judiciously, engineers make incremental changes in : order to select the...

Geostationary payload concepts for personal satellite communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benedicto, J.; Rinous, P.; Roberts, I.; Roederer, A.; Stojkovic, I.

1993-01-01

This paper reviews candidate satellite payload architectures for systems providing world-wide communication services to mobile users equipped with hand-held terminals based on large geostationary satellites. There are a number of problems related to the payload architecture, on-board routing and beamforming, and the design of the S-band Tx and L-band Rx antenna and front ends. A number of solutions are outlined, based on trade-offs with respect to the most significant performance parameters such as capacity, G/T, flexibility of routing traffic to beams and re-configuration of the spot-beam coverage, and payload mass and power. Candidate antenna and front-end configurations were studied, in particular direct radiating arrays, arrays magnified by a reflector and active focused reflectors with overlapping feed clusters for both transmit (multimax) and receive (beam synthesis). Regarding the on-board routing and beamforming sub-systems, analog techniques based on banks of SAW filters, FET or CMOS switches and cross-bar fixed and variable beamforming are compared with a hybrid analog/digital approach based on Chirp Fourier Transform (CFT) demultiplexer combined with digital beamforming or a fully digital processor implementation, also based on CFT demultiplexing.

Visual improvements in vaginal mucosa correlate with symptoms of VVA: data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Simon, James A; Archer, David F; Kagan, Risa; Bernick, Brian; Graham, Shelli; Constantine, Ginger D; Mirkin, Sebastian

2017-09-01

To evaluate the response of the vaginal mucosa with TX-004HR and its correlation with vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) symptoms, and whether visual examination is a useful measure for assessing VVA. REJOICE was a 12-week, phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a vaginal, muco-adhesive, 17β-estradiol softgel capsule (TX-004HR 4, 10, and 25 μg) in postmenopausal women with VVA and moderate-to-severe dyspareunia. Treatments were self-administered vaginally once per day for 2 weeks, then twice per week for 10 weeks. The vagina was visually examined at baseline and at weeks 2, 6, 8, and 12; changes were evaluated using a 4-item scale for vaginal color, vaginal epithelial integrity, vaginal epithelial surface thickness, and vaginal secretions. Significant improvements were observed with all three TX-004HR doses versus placebo in vaginal color (least square mean score changes of -0.96 to -1.06 for TX-004HR doses vs -0.60 for placebo at week 12), epithelial integrity (-0.97 to -1.07 vs -0.60), epithelial surface thickness (-0.94 to -1.03 vs -0.61), and secretions (-1.01 to -1.06 vs -0.64) (P < 0.001 for all comparisons at all time points). Both Pearson's correlations and logistic regression receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses significantly correlated the sum of the individual visual assessment scores with dyspareunia (P < 0.0001) and vaginal dryness (P < 0.0001) at 12 weeks. Greater improvements in the vaginal mucosa of postmenopausal women with VVA and moderate-to-severe dyspareunia were observed with TX-004HR versus placebo, and vaginal mucosa assessment scores correlated with vaginal symptoms of dyspareunia and dryness. Visual vaginal assessment by healthcare professionals is a useful measure for diagnosing VVA and assessing response to treatment.

Temperature Tolerant Evolvable Systems Utilizing FPGA Boards and Bias-Controlled Amplifiers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, Nikhil R.

2005-01-01

Space missions often require radiation and extreme-temperature hardened electronics to survive the harsh environments beyond Earth's atmosphere. Traditional approaches to preserve electronics incorporate shielding, insulation and redundancy at the expense of power and weight. However, a novel way of bypassing these problems is the concept of evolutionary hardware. A reconfigurable device, consisting of several switches interconnected with analog/digital parts, is controlled by an evolutionary processor (EP). When the EP detects degradation in the circuit it sends signals to reconfigure the switches, thus forming a new circuit with the desired output. This concept has been developed since the mid-l990s, but one problem remains-the EP cannot degrade substantially. For this reason, extensive testing at extreme temperatures (-180 to 120 C) has been done on devices found on FPGA boards (taking the role of the EP), such as the Analog to Digital and the Digital to Analog Converter. The EP is used in conjunction with a bias-controlled amplifier and a new prototype relay board, which is interconnected with 6 G4-FETs, a tri-input transistor-like element developed at JPL. The greatest improvements to be made lie in the reconfigurable device, so future design and testing of the G4-FET chip is required.

Switching between univalent task-sets in schizophrenia: ERP evidence of an anticipatory task-set reconfiguration deficit.

PubMed

Karayanidis, Frini; Nicholson, Rebecca; Schall, Ulrich; Meem, Lydia; Fulham, Ross; Michie, Patricia T

2006-10-01

The present study used behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) indices of task-switching to examine whether schizophrenia patients have a specific deficit in anticipatory task-set reconfiguration. Participants switched between univalent tasks in an alternating runs paradigms with blocked response-stimulus interval (RSI) manipulation (150, 300, 600, and 1200ms). Nineteen high functioning people with schizophrenia were compared to controls that were matched for age, gender, education and premorbid IQ estimate. Schizophrenia patients had overall increased RT, but no increase in corrected RT switch cost. In the schizophrenia group, ERPs showed reduced activation of the differential positivity in anticipation of switch trial at the optimal 600ms RSI and reduced activation of the frontal post-stimulus switch negativity at both 600 and 1200ms RSI compared to the control group. Despite no behavioral differences in task switching performance, anticipatory and stimulus-triggered ERP indices of task-switching suggest group differences in processing of switch and repeat trials, especially at longer RSI conditions that for control participants provide opportunity for anticipatory activation of task-set reconfiguration processes. These results are compatible with impaired implementation of endogenously driven processes in schizophrenia and greater reliance on external task cues, especially at long preparation intervals.

Distributing coil elements in three dimensions enhances parallel transmission multiband RF performance: A simulation study in the human brain at 7 Tesla.

PubMed

Wu, Xiaoping; Tian, Jinfeng; Schmitter, Sebastian; Vaughan, J Tommy; Uğurbil, Kâmil; Van de Moortele, Pierre-François

2016-06-01

We explore the advantages of using a double-ring radiofrequency (RF) array and slice orientation to design parallel transmission (pTx) multiband (MB) pulses for simultaneous multislice (SMS) imaging with whole-brain coverage at 7 Tesla (T). A double-ring head array with 16 elements split evenly in two rings stacked in the z-direction was modeled and compared with two single-ring arrays consisting of 8 or 16 elements. The array performance was evaluated by designing band-specific pTx MB pulses with local specific absorption rate (SAR) control. The impact of slice orientations was also investigated. The double-ring array consistently and significantly outperformed the other two single-ring arrays, with peak local SAR reduced by up to 40% at a fixed excitation error of 0.024. For all three arrays, exciting sagittal or coronal slices yielded better RF performance than exciting axial or oblique slices. A double-ring RF array can be used to drastically improve SAR versus excitation fidelity tradeoff for pTx MB pulse design for brain imaging at 7 T; therefore, it is preferable against single-ring RF array designs when pursuing various biomedical applications of pTx SMS imaging. In comparing the stripline arrays, coronal and sagittal slices are more advantageous than axial and oblique slices for pTx MB pulses. Magn Reson Med 75:2464-2472, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sustainable decontamination of an actual-site aged PCB-polluted soil through a biosurfactant-based washing followed by a photocatalytic treatment.

PubMed

Occulti, Fabio; Roda, Giovanni Camera; Berselli, Sara; Fava, Fabio

2008-04-15

A two phases process consisting of a soya lecithin (SL)-based soil washing process followed by the photocatalytic treatment of resulting effluents was developed and applied at the laboratory scale in the remediation of an actual-site soil historically contaminated by 0.65 g/kg of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Triton X-100 (TX) was employed in the same process as a control surfactant. SL and TX, both applied as 2.25 g/L aqueous solutions, displayed a comparable ability to remove PCBs from the soil. However, SL solution displayed a lower ecotoxicity, a lower ability to mobilize soil constituents and a higher soil detoxification capacity with respect to the TX one. The photocatalytic treatment resulted in marked depletions (from 50% to 70%) of total organic carbon (TOC) and PCBs initially occurring in the SL and TX contaminated effluents. Despite the ability of SL to adversely affect the rate of TOC and PCB photodegradation, higher PCB depletion and dechlorination yields along with lower increases of ecotoxicity were observed in SL-containing effluents with respect to the TX ones at the end of 15 days of treatment. The two phases process developed and tested for the first time in this study seems to have the required features to become, after a proper optimization and scale up, a challenging procedure for the sustainable remediation of actual site, poorly biotreatable PCB-contaminated soils. Copyright 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

AF64A depletes hippocampal high-affinity choline uptake but does not alter the density of alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites or modify the effect of exogenous choline.

PubMed

Morley, B J; Garner, L L

1990-06-11

Sodium-dependent, high-affinity choline uptake (HACU) and the density of alpha-bungarotoxin (BuTX) receptor-binding sites were measured in the hippocampus following the intraventricular infusion of ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A), a neurotoxin that competes with choline at high-affinity choline transport sites and may result in the degeneration of cholinergic axons. Eight days after the infusion of AF64A into the lateral ventricles (2.5 nmol/side), HACU was depleted by 60% in the hippocampus of experimental animals in comparison with controls, but the density of BuTX-binding sites was not altered. The administration of 15 mg/ml of choline chloride in the drinking water increased the density of BuTX-binding sites, as previously reported by this laboratory. The administration of AF64A did not prevent the effect of exogenous choline on the density of binding sites, nor did choline treatment alter the effect of AF64A on HACU. These data indicate that the density of BuTX-binding sites in the hippocampus is not altered following a substantial decrease in HACU and presumed degeneration of cholinergic axons. Since the effect of exogenous choline was not prevented by AF64A treatment, the data are interpreted to support the hypothesis that the increase in the density of BuTX-binding sites following dietary choline supplementation is attributable to a direct effect of choline on receptor sites.

The selective A-type K+ current blocker Tx3-1 isolated from the Phoneutria nigriventer venom enhances memory of naïve and Aβ(25-35)-treated mice.

PubMed

Gomes, Guilherme M; Dalmolin, Gerusa D; Cordeiro, Marta do Nascimento; Gomez, Marcus V; Ferreira, Juliano; Rubin, Maribel A

2013-12-15

Potassium channels regulate many neuronal functions, including neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity, contributing, by these means, to mnemonic processes. In particular, A-type K(+) currents (IA) play a key role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of the peptidic toxin Tx3-1, a selective blocker of IA currents, extracted from the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer, on memory of mice. Administration of Tx3-1 (i.c.v., 300 pmol/site) enhanced both short- and long-term memory consolidation of mice tested in the novel object recognition task. In comparison, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; i.c.v., 30-300 pmol/site), a non-selective K(+) channel blocker did not alter long-term memory and caused toxic side effects such as circling, freezing and tonic-clonic seizures. Moreover, Tx3-1 (i.c.v., 10-100 pmol/site) restored memory of Aβ25-35-injected mice, and exhibited a higher potency to improve memory of Aβ25-35-injected mice when compared to control group. These results show the effect of the selective blocker of IA currents Tx3-1 in both short- and long-term memory retention and in memory impairment caused by Aβ25-35, reinforcing the role of IA in physiological and pathological memory processes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Deflection in Tapered Cantilever Beams Deflection (Gap Opening) in Double Cantilever Type Fracture Toughness Specimens.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-08-01

o10 ------- --------- tx] (26) t 5 t bE ho 2(h0+tx) 2 and as before 12 9 1 p ho + tx 2ho + 3tx bend3 + bE ho 2(ho+tX)2 txcos2 At the limit, as t...h0+tx) 2tx Therefore P 1 x P x lim 6 bend3 n2 -(-) - 4 -(;) t+o bE 3ho bE h 22 which, except for the sign, is the same as that arrived at in Eq. (9

Economic Impact Forecast System (EIFS) II: User’s Manual. Updated Edition.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-05-01

vermillion, in utica ny bea 18167 viga, in bOO bea 36011 cayuga. ny texarkana tx boa 36023 cortland, ny texarkana bea 36033 franklin, ny b119 bea...f1 48343 morris, tx 167 *.1• ’ texarkana tx boa (cont) tulsa ok boa (cont) 48387 red river, tx 40117 pawn*@, ok 48449 titus, tx 40119 payne, ok 40131...smsa texarkana ar smsa s7920 smsa texarkana tx smsa 29043 christian, ma texarkana sinsa 29077 green&, ma s8360 smsa 05081 little river, ar springfield

Using partial reconfiguration for SoC design and implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krasteva, Yana E.; Portilla, Jorge; Tobajas Guerrero, Félix; de la Torre, Eduardo

2009-05-01

Most reconfigurable systems rely on FPGA technology. Among these ones, those which permit dynamic and partial reconfiguration, offer added benefits in flexibility, in-field device upgrade, improved design and manufacturing time, and even, in some cases, power consumption reductions. However, dynamic reconfiguration is a complex task, and the real benefits of its use in real applications have been often questioned. This paper presents an overview of the partial reconfiguration technique application, along with four original applications. The main goal of these applications is to test several architectures with different flexibility and, to search for the partial reconfiguration "killing application", that is, the application that better demonstrates the benefits of today reconfigurable systems based on commercial FPGAs. Therefore, the presented applications are rather a proof of concept, than fully operative and closed systems. First, a brief introduction to the partial reconfigurable systems application topic has been included. After that, the descriptions of the created reconfigurable systems are presented: first, an on-chip communications emulation framework, second, an on chip debugging system, third, a wireless sensor network reconfigurable node and finally, a remote reconfigurable client-server device. Each application is described in a separate section of the paper along with some test and results. General conclusions are included at the end of the paper.

Go reconfigure: how fish change shape as they swim and evolve.

PubMed

Long, John H; Porter, Marianne E; Root, Robert G; Liew, Chun Wai

2010-12-01

The bodies of fish change shape over propulsive, behavioral, developmental, and evolutionary time scales, a general phenomenon that we call "reconfiguration". Undulatory, postural, and form-reconfiguration can be distinguished, studied independently, and examined in terms of mechanical interactions and evolutionary importance. Using a combination of live, swimming fishes and digital robotic fish that are autonomous and self-propelled, we examined the functional relation between undulatory and postural reconfiguration in forward swimming, backward swimming, and yaw turning. To probe how postural and form reconfiguration interact, the yaw turning of leopard sharks was examined using morphometric and kinematic analyses. To test how undulatory reconfiguration might evolve, the digital robotic fish were subjected to selection for enhanced performance in a simulated ecology in which each individual had to detect and move towards a food source. In addition to the general issue of reconfiguration, these investigations are united by the fact that the dynamics of undulatory and postural reconfigurations are predicted to be determined, in part, by the structural stiffness of the fish's body. Our method defines undulatory reconfiguration as the combined, point-by-point periodic motion of the body, leaving postural reconfiguration as the combined deviations from undulatory reconfiguration. While undulatory reconfiguration appears to be the sole or primary propulsive driver, postural reconfiguration may contribute to propulsion in hagfish and it is correlated with differences in forward, and backward, swimming in lamprey. Form reconfigures over developmental time in leopard sharks in a manner that is consistent with an allometric scaling theory in which structural stiffness of the body is held constant. However, correlation of a form proxy for structural stiffness of the body suggests that body stiffness may scale in order to limit maximum postural reconfiguration during routine yaw turns. When structural stiffness and undulatory frequency are modeled as determining the tail's undulatory wave speed, both factors evolve under selection for enhanced foraging behavior in the digital fish-like robots. The methods used in making these distinctions between kinds of reconfiguration have broad applicability in fish biology, especially for quantifying complex motor behaviors in the wild and for simulating selection on behavior that leads to directional evolution of functional phenotypes.

Evolution of body weight parameters up to 3 years after solid organ transplantation: The prospective Swiss Transplant Cohort Study.

PubMed

Beckmann, Sonja; Nikolic, Nataša; Denhaerynck, Kris; Binet, Isabelle; Koller, Michael; Boely, Elsa; De Geest, Sabina

2017-03-01

Obesity and weight gain are serious concerns after solid organ transplantation (Tx); however, no unbiased comparison regarding body weight parameter evolution across organ groups has yet been performed. Using data from the prospective nationwide Swiss Transplant Cohort Study, we compared the evolution of weight parameters up to 3 years post-Tx in 1359 adult kidney (58.3%), liver (21.7%), lung (11.6%), and heart (8.4%) recipients transplanted between May 2008 and May 2012. Changes in mean weight and body mass index (BMI) category were compared to reference values from 6 months post-Tx. At 3 years post-Tx, compared to other organ groups, liver Tx recipients showed the greatest weight gain (mean 4.8±10.4 kg), 57.4% gained >5% body weight, and they had the highest incidence of obesity (38.1%). After 3 years, based on their BMI categories at 6 months, normal weight and obese liver Tx patients, as well as underweight kidney, lung and heart Tx patients had the highest weight gains. Judged against international Tx patient data, the majority of our Swiss Tx recipients' experienced lower post-Tx weight gain. However, our findings show weight gain pattern differences, both within and across organ Tx groups that call for preventive measures. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

78 FR 48293 - Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; San Marcos, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-08

..., TX [Amended] San Marcos Municipal Airport, TX (Lat. 29[deg]53'34'' N., long. 97[deg]51'47'' W.) That...] San Marcos Municipal Airport, TX (Lat. 29[deg]53'34'' N., long. 97[deg]51'47'' W.) Lockhart Municipal Airport, TX (Lat. 29[deg]51'01'' N., long. 97[deg]40'21'' W.) That airspace extending upward from 700 feet...

Characterization of robotics parallel algorithms and mapping onto a reconfigurable SIMD machine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, C. S. G.; Lin, C. T.

1989-01-01

The kinematics, dynamics, Jacobian, and their corresponding inverse computations are six essential problems in the control of robot manipulators. Efficient parallel algorithms for these computations are discussed and analyzed. Their characteristics are identified and a scheme on the mapping of these algorithms to a reconfigurable parallel architecture is presented. Based on the characteristics including type of parallelism, degree of parallelism, uniformity of the operations, fundamental operations, data dependencies, and communication requirement, it is shown that most of the algorithms for robotic computations possess highly regular properties and some common structures, especially the linear recursive structure. Moreover, they are well-suited to be implemented on a single-instruction-stream multiple-data-stream (SIMD) computer with reconfigurable interconnection network. The model of a reconfigurable dual network SIMD machine with internal direct feedback is introduced. A systematic procedure internal direct feedback is introduced. A systematic procedure to map these computations to the proposed machine is presented. A new scheduling problem for SIMD machines is investigated and a heuristic algorithm, called neighborhood scheduling, that reorders the processing sequence of subtasks to reduce the communication time is described. Mapping results of a benchmark algorithm are illustrated and discussed.

Control Reconfiguration of Command and Control Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

decision errors and control action delays upon entering a state. These two undesirable effects can be intertwined. To quantify their individual impact...19 6) Effect of...Study of the Effect of Supervisory Control on a Redundant Database Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 (Metzler and Wu, Report to AFRL 2005) 9.1) Problem

Software-defined reconfigurable microwave photonics processor.

PubMed

Pérez, Daniel; Gasulla, Ivana; Capmany, José

2015-06-01

We propose, for the first time to our knowledge, a software-defined reconfigurable microwave photonics signal processor architecture that can be integrated on a chip and is capable of performing all the main functionalities by suitable programming of its control signals. The basic configuration is presented and a thorough end-to-end design model derived that accounts for the performance of the overall processor taking into consideration the impact and interdependencies of both its photonic and RF parts. We demonstrate the model versatility by applying it to several relevant application examples.

Transformable and Reconfigurable Entry, Descent and Landing Systems and Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fernandez, Ian M. (Inventor); Venkatapathy, Ethiraj (Inventor); Hamm, Kenneth R. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A deployable aerodynamic decelerator structure includes a ring member disposed along a central axis of the aerodynamic decelerator, a plurality of jointed rib members extending radially from the ring member and a flexible layer attached to the plurality of rib members. A deployment device is operable to reconfigure the flexible layer from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration by movement of the rib members and a control device is operable to redirect a lift vector of the decelerator structure by changing an orientation of the flexible layer.

TxDOT can help pave the way for distribution centers.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-05-01

TxDOT supports economic development in Texas. : Working through its district offices, TxDOT can help : developers avoid common transportation-related : problems associated with selected center sites. TxDOT : may also be able to help distribution cent...

Optimization of metallic microheaters for high-speed reconfigurable silicon photonics.

PubMed

Atabaki, A H; Shah Hosseini, E; Eftekhar, A A; Yegnanarayanan, S; Adibi, A

2010-08-16

The strong thermooptic effect in silicon enables low-power and low-loss reconfiguration of large-scale silicon photonics. Thermal reconfiguration through the integration of metallic microheaters has been one of the more widely used reconfiguration techniques in silicon photonics. In this paper, structural and material optimizations are carried out through heat transport modeling to improve the reconfiguration speed of such devices, and the results are experimentally verified. Around 4 micros reconfiguration time are shown for the optimized structures. Moreover, sub-microsecond reconfiguration time is experimentally demonstrated through the pulsed excitation of the microheaters. The limitation of this pulsed excitation scheme is also discussed through an accurate system-level model developed for the microheater response.

Time Varying Compensator Design for Reconfigurable Structures Using Non-Collocated Feedback

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, Michael A.

1996-01-01

Analysis and synthesis tools are developed to improved the dynamic performance of reconfigurable nonminimum phase, nonstrictly positive real-time variant systems. A novel Spline Varying Optimal (SVO) controller is developed for the kinematic nonlinear system. There are several advantages to using the SVO controller, in which the spline function approximates the system model, observer, and controller gain. They are: The spline function approximation is simply connected, thus the SVO controller is more continuous than traditional gain scheduled controllers when implemented on a time varying plant; ft is easier for real-time implementations in storage and computational effort; where system identification is required, the spline function requires fewer experiments, namely four experiments; and initial startup estimator transients are eliminated. The SVO compensator was evaluated on a high fidelity simulation of the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System. The SVO controller demonstrated significant improvement over the present arm performance: (1) Damping level was improved by a factor of 3; and (2) Peak joint torque was reduced by a factor of 2 following Shuttle thruster firings.

Integrated feeds for electronically reconfigurable apertures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicholls, Jeffrey Grant

With the increasing ubiquity of wireless technology, the need for lower-profile, electronically reconfigurable, highly-directive beam-steering antennas is increasing. This thesis proposes a new electronic beam-steering antenna architecture which combines the full-space beam-steering properties of reflectarrays and transmitarrays with the low-profile feeding characteristics of leaky-wave antennas. Two designs are developed: an integrated feed reflectarray and an integrated feed transmitarray, both of which integrate a leaky-wave feed directly next to the reconfigurable aperture itself. The integrated feed transmitarray proved to be the better architecture due to its simpler design and better performance. A 6-by-6 element array was fabricated and experimentally verified, and full-space (both azimuth and elevation) beam-steering was demonstrated at angles up to 45 degrees off broadside. In addition to the reduction in profile, the integrated feed design enables robust fixed control of the amplitude distribution across the aperture, a characteristic not as easily attained in typical reflectarrays/transmitarrays.

A three-dimensional actuated origami-inspired transformable metamaterial with multiple degrees of freedom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Overvelde, Johannes T. B.; de Jong, Twan A.; Shevchenko, Yanina; Becerra, Sergio A.; Whitesides, George M.; Weaver, James C.; Hoberman, Chuck; Bertoldi, Katia

2016-03-01

Reconfigurable devices, whose shape can be drastically altered, are central to expandable shelters, deployable space structures, reversible encapsulation systems and medical tools and robots. All these applications require structures whose shape can be actively controlled, both for deployment and to conform to the surrounding environment. While most current reconfigurable designs are application specific, here we present a mechanical metamaterial with tunable shape, volume and stiffness. Our approach exploits a simple modular origami-like design consisting of rigid faces and hinges, which are connected to form a periodic structure consisting of extruded cubes. We show both analytically and experimentally that the transformable metamaterial has three degrees of freedom, which can be actively deformed into numerous specific shapes through embedded actuation. The proposed metamaterial can be used to realize transformable structures with arbitrary architectures, highlighting a robust strategy for the design of reconfigurable devices over a wide range of length scales.

Continuum Reconfigurable Parallel Robots for Surgery: Shape Sensing and State Estimation with Uncertainty.

PubMed

Anderson, Patrick L; Mahoney, Arthur W; Webster, Robert J

2017-07-01

This paper examines shape sensing for a new class of surgical robot that consists of parallel flexible structures that can be reconfigured inside the human body. Known as CRISP robots, these devices provide access to the human body through needle-sized entry points, yet can be configured into truss-like structures capable of dexterous movement and large force application. They can also be reconfigured as needed during a surgical procedure. Since CRISP robots are elastic, they will deform when subjected to external forces or other perturbations. In this paper, we explore how to combine sensor information with mechanics-based models for CRISP robots to estimate their shapes under applied loads. The end result is a shape sensing framework for CRISP robots that will enable future research on control under applied loads, autonomous motion, force sensing, and other robot behaviors.

Application of the Modular Automated Reconfigurable Assembly System (MARAS) concept to adaptable vision gauging and parts feeding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

By, Andre Bernard; Caron, Ken; Rothenberg, Michael; Sales, Vic

1994-01-01

This paper presents the first phase results of a collaborative effort between university researchers and a flexible assembly systems integrator to implement a comprehensive modular approach to flexible assembly automation. This approach, named MARAS (Modular Automated Reconfigurable Assembly System), has been structured to support multiple levels of modularity in terms of both physical components and system control functions. The initial focus of the MARAS development has been on parts gauging and feeding operations for cylinder lock assembly. This phase is nearing completion and has resulted in the development of a highly configurable system for vision gauging functions on a wide range of small components (2 mm to 100 mm in size). The reconfigurable concepts implemented in this adaptive Vision Gauging Module (VGM) are now being extended to applicable aspects of the singulating, selecting, and orienting functions required for the flexible feeding of similar mechanical components and assemblies.

Core networks and their reconfiguration patterns across cognitive loads.

PubMed

Zuo, Nianming; Yang, Zhengyi; Liu, Yong; Li, Jin; Jiang, Tianzi

2018-04-20

Different cognitively demanding tasks recruit globally distributed but functionally specific networks. However, the configuration of core networks and their reconfiguration patterns across cognitive loads remain unclear, as does whether these patterns are indicators for the performance of cognitive tasks. In this study, we analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging data of a large cohort of 448 subjects, acquired with the brain at resting state and executing N-back working memory (WM) tasks. We discriminated core networks by functional interaction strength and connection flexibility. Results demonstrated that the frontoparietal network (FPN) and default mode network (DMN) were core networks, but each exhibited different patterns across cognitive loads. The FPN and DMN both showed strengthened internal connections at the low demand state (0-back) compared with the resting state (control level); whereas, from the low (0-back) to high demand state (2-back), some connections to the FPN weakened and were rewired to the DMN (whose connections all remained strong). Of note, more intensive reconfiguration of both the whole brain and core networks (but no other networks) across load levels indicated relatively poor cognitive performance. Collectively these findings indicate that the FPN and DMN have distinct roles and reconfiguration patterns across cognitively demanding loads. This study advances our understanding of the core networks and their reconfiguration patterns across cognitive loads and provides a new feature to evaluate and predict cognitive capability (e.g., WM performance) based on brain networks. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Optimal reconfiguration strategy for a degradable multimodule computing system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Yann-Hang; Shin, Kang G.

1987-01-01

The present quantitative approach to the problem of reconfiguring a degradable multimode system assigns some modules to computation and arranges others for reliability. By using expected total reward as the optimal criterion, there emerges an active reconfiguration strategy based not only on the occurrence of failure but the progression of the given mission. This reconfiguration strategy requires specification of the times at which the system should undergo reconfiguration, and the configurations to which the system should change. The optimal reconfiguration problem is converted to integer nonlinear knapsack and fractional programming problems.

78 FR 29613 - Modification and Revocation of Air Traffic Service Routes; Jackson, MS

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-21

... structure as required to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic. Environmental Review The FAA... Guthrie 156[deg] and Millsap, TX, 274[deg] radials; Millsap; Glen Rose, TX; Cedar Creek, TX; Quitman, TX...

Source Hierarchy List. Volume 1. A through D

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-07-01

TECHNOLOGY DIV 04 LAKE CITY ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT INDEPENDENCE MO INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING DIV 03 LONE STAR ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT TEXARKANA TX 03...INDEPENDENCE MO INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING DIV 03 LONE STAR ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT TEXARKANA TX 03 LONGHORN ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT MARSHALL TX 03 LOUISIANA...STORAGE ACTIVITY SAN ANTONIO TX* 02 COATING AND CHEMICAL LAB ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD 02 DARCOM INTERN TRAINING CENTER TEXARKANA TX 03 ARMY MATERIEL

Acute toxicity of karlotoxins to mice

PubMed Central

Place, Allen R.; Munday, R.; Munday, J.S.

2015-01-01

Karlotoxins, polyketide derivatives produced by the dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum, are associated with fish kills in temperate estuaries world wide. In this study, the acute effects of 3 pure karlotoxin analogs (KmTx 1, KmTx 3 and KmTx 2) have been examined in mice. Transient lethargy and increased respiratory rates were observed soon after dosing with the karlotoxins by intraperitoneal injection, but no deaths were recorded in animals dosed with KmTx 2 at up to 500 μg/kg or with KmTx 1 or KmTx 3 at up to 4000 μg/kg. Animals dosed intraperitoneally with KmTx 1 and KmTx 3 at 4000 μg/kg showed a pronounced decrease in food and water intake, lasting 3–4 days after dosing, accompanied by a significant decrease in body weight. After this time, the lost body weight was regained and the behavior and appearance of the mice remained normal throughout the following 10 day observation period. No effects were seen in mice dosed orally with KmTx 1 or KmTx 3 at a dose of 4000 μg/kg. It is concluded that contamination of seafood if it were to occur with these karlotoxins is unlikely to pose a major risk of acute intoxication in consumers. PMID:25150200

Control and Communication for a Secure and Reconfigurable Power Distribution System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giacomoni, Anthony Michael

A major transformation is taking place throughout the electric power industry to overlay existing electric infrastructure with advanced sensing, communications, and control system technologies. This transformation to a smart grid promises to enhance system efficiency, increase system reliability, support the electrification of transportation, and provide customers with greater control over their electricity consumption. Upgrading control and communication systems for the end-to-end electric power grid, however, will present many new security challenges that must be dealt with before extensive deployment and implementation of these technologies can begin. In this dissertation, a comprehensive systems approach is taken to minimize and prevent cyber-physical disturbances to electric power distribution systems using sensing, communications, and control system technologies. To accomplish this task, an intelligent distributed secure control (IDSC) architecture is presented and validated in silico for distribution systems to provide greater adaptive protection, with the ability to proactively reconfigure, and rapidly respond to disturbances. Detailed descriptions of functionalities at each layer of the architecture as well as the whole system are provided. To compare the performance of the IDSC architecture with that of other control architectures, an original simulation methodology is developed. The simulation model integrates aspects of cyber-physical security, dynamic price and demand response, sensing, communications, intermittent distributed energy resources (DERs), and dynamic optimization and reconfiguration. Applying this comprehensive systems approach, performance results for the IEEE 123 node test feeder are simulated and analyzed. The results show the trade-offs between system reliability, operational constraints, and costs for several control architectures and optimization algorithms. Additional simulation results are also provided. In particular, the advantages of an IDSC architecture are highlighted when an intermittent DER is present on the system.

Management of redundancy in flight control systems using optimal decision theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

The problem of using redundancy that exists between dissimilar systems in aircraft flight control is addressed. That is, using the redundancy that exists between a rate gyro and an accelerometer--devices that have dissimilar outputs which are related only through the dynamics of the aircraft motion. Management of this type of redundancy requires advanced logic so that the system can monitor failure status and can reconfigure itself in the event of one or more failures. An optimal decision theory was tutorially developed for the management of sensor redundancy and the theory is applied to two aircraft examples. The first example is the space shuttle and the second is a highly maneuvering high performance aircraft--the F8-C. The examples illustrate the redundancy management design process and the performance of the algorithms presented in failure detection and control law reconfiguration.

Brainstem structures are primarily affected in an experimental model of severe scorpion envenomation.

PubMed

Guidine, Patrícia Alves Maia; Cash, Diana; Drumond, Luciana Estefani; de Souza E Rezende, Gustavo Henrique; Massensini, André Ricardo; Williams, Steve Charles Rees; Moraes-Santos, Tasso; Moraes, Márcio Flávio Dutra; Mesquita, Michel Bernanos Soares

2014-01-01

Severe scorpion envenoming (SSE) is more frequent in children and is characterized by systemic dysfunctions with a mortality rate of up to 9%. Recent evidence shows that the central nervous system (CNS) plays a key role in triggering the cascade of symptoms present in SSE. The age-dependent role of the CNS in SSE lethality may be summarized in 3 hypotheses: (1) the shown increased blood brain barrier permeability of infants to the toxins would especially and primarily compromise neurovegetative control areas, (2) the neurons within these areas have high affinity to the toxins, and (3) the neurovascular interaction is such that SSE metabolically compromises proper function of toxin-targeted areas. A pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging paradigm was used to evaluate localized hemodynamic changes in relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) for 30 min after the injection of TsTX, the most lethal toxin from the venom of the Tityus serrulatus scorpion. The brainstem showed significant rCBV reduction 1 min after TsTX administration, whereas rostral brain areas had delayed increase in rCBV (confirmed by laser Doppler measurements of cortical cerebral blood flow). Moreover, metabolic activity by 14C-2-deoxyglucose autoradiography showed the highest relative increase at the brainstem. To test whether TsTX has high affinity to brainstem neurons, the lateral ventricle was injected with Alexa Fluor 568 TsTX. Although some neurons showed intense fluorescence, the labeling pattern suggests that specific neurons were targeted. Altogether, these results suggest that brainstem areas involved in neurovegetative control are most likely within the primary structures triggering the cascade of symptoms present in SSE.

Multisite effectiveness trials of treatments for substance abuse and co-occurring problems: have we chosen the best designs?

PubMed

Nunes, Edward V; Ball, Samuel; Booth, Robert; Brigham, Gregory; Calsyn, Donald A; Carroll, Kathleen; Feaster, Daniel J; Hien, Denise; Hubbard, Robert L; Ling, Walter; Petry, Nancy M; Rotrosen, John; Selzer, Jeffrey; Stitzer, Maxine; Tross, Susan; Wakim, Paul; Winhusen, Theresa; Woody, George

2010-06-01

Multisite effectiveness trials such as those carried out in the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) are a critical step in the development and dissemination of evidence-based treatments because they address how such treatments perform in real-world clinical settings. As Brigham et al. summarized in a recent article (G. S. Brigham, D. J. Feaster, P. G. Wakim, & C. L. Dempsey C. L., 2009), several possible experimental designs may be chosen for such effectiveness trials. These include (a) a new treatment intervention (Tx) is compared to an existing mode of community based treatment as usual (TAU): Tx versus TAU; (b) a new intervention is added to TAU and compared to TAU alone: Tx + TAU versus TAU; or (c) a new intervention is added to TAU and compared to a control condition added to TAU: Tx + TAU versus control + TAU. Each of these designs addresses a different question and has different potential strengths and weaknesses. As of December 2009, the primary outcome paper had been published for 16 of the multisite randomized clinical trials conducted in the CTN, testing various treatments for drug abuse, HIV risk behavior, or related problems. This paper systematically examines, for each of the completed trials, the experimental design type chosen and its original rationale, the main findings of the trial, and the strengths and weaknesses of the design in hindsight. Based on this review, recommendations are generated to inform the design of future effectiveness trials on treatments for substance abuse, HIV risk, and other behavioral health problems.

A Modular Re-configurable Rover System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouloubasis, A.; McKee, G.; Active Robotics Lab

In this paper we present the novel concepts incorporated in a planetary surface exploration rover design that is currently under development. The Multitasking Rover (MTR) aims to demonstrate functionality that will cover many of the current and future needs such as rough-terrain mobility, modularity and upgradeability [1]. The rover system has enhanced mobility characteristics. It operates in conjunction with Science Packs (SPs) and Tool Packs (TPs) - modules attached to the main frame of the rover, which are either special tools or science instruments and alter the operation capabilities of the system. To date, each rover system design is very much task driven for example, the scenario of cooperative transportation of extended payloads [2], comprises two rovers each equipped with a manipulator dedicated to the task [3]. The MTR approach focuses mostly on modularity and upgradeability presenting at the same time a fair amount of internal re-configurability for the sake of rough terrain stability. The rover itself does not carry any scientific instruments or tools. To carry out the scenario mentioned above, the MTR would have to locate and pick-up a TP with the associated manipulator. After the completion of the task the TP could be put away to a storage location enabling the rover to utilize a different Pack. The rover will not only offer mobility to these modules, but also use them as tools, transforming its role and functionality. The advantage of this approach is that instead of sending a large number of rovers to perform a variety of tasks, a smaller number of MTRs could be deployed with a large number of SPs/TPs, offering multiples of the functionality at a reduced payload. Two SPs or TPs (or a combination of) can be carried and deployed. One of the key elements in the design of the four wheeled rover, lies within its suspension system. It comprises a linear actuator located within each leg and also an active differential linking the two shoulders. This novel design allows the MTR to lift, lower, roll or tilt its body. It also provides the ability to lift any of the legs by nearly 300mm, enhancing internal re-configurability and therefore rough terrain stability off the robotic vehicle. A modular software and control architecture will be used so that integration to, and operation through the MTR, of different Packs can be demonstrated. An on-board high-level controller [4] will communicate with a small network of micro-controllers through an RS485 bus. Additional processing power could be obtained through a Pack with equivalent or higher computational capabilities. 1 The nature of the system offers many opportunities for behavior based control. The control system must accommodate not only rover based behaviors like obstacle avoidance and vehicle stabilization, but also any additional behaviors that different Packs may introduce. The Ego-Behavior Architecture (EBA) [5] comprises a number of behaviors which operate autonomously and independent of each other. This facilitates the design and suits the operation of the MTR since it fulfills the need for uncomplicated assimilation of new behaviors in the existing architecture. Our work at the moment focuses on the design and construction of the mechanical and electronic systems for the MTR and an associated Pack. References [1] NASA, Human Exploration of Mars: The Reference Mission (Version 3.0 with June, 1998 Addendum) of the NASA Mars Exploration Study Team, Exploration Office, Advanced Development Office, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, June, 1998. [2] A. Trebi-Ollennu, H Das Nayer, H Aghazarian, A ganino, P Pirjanian, B Kennedy, T Huntsberger and P Schenker, Mars Rover Pair Cooperatively Transporting a Long Payload, in Proceedings of the 2002 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, May 2002, pp. 3136-3141. [3] A. K. Bouloubasis, G. T McKee, P. S. Schenker, A Behavior-Based Manipulator for Multi-Robot Transport Tasks, in proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2003, Taipei, Taiwan, September 2003, pp. 2287-2292. [4] www.gumstix.com [5] M. G. Lewis, P. M. Sharkey, A plug and play architecture for emergent behaviour in robot control, Proceedings Configuration an Control Aspects of Mechatronics, Ilmeneau, Germany, September 1997. 2

The influence of aspirin dose and glycemic control on platelet inhibition in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Lemkes, B A; Bähler, L; Kamphuisen, P W; Stroobants, A K; Van Den Dool, E J; Hoekstra, J B; Nieuwland, R; Gerdes, V E; Holleman, F

2012-04-01

Low-dose aspirin seems to offer no benefit in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The anti-platelet effect may be diminished by poor glycemic control or inadequate dosing of aspirin. To study the effects of both glycemic control and increasing aspirin dose on platelet response to aspirin in DM2 patients and matched controls. Platelet effects of increasing doses of aspirin (30, 100 and 300 mg daily) were prospectively assessed in 94 DM2 patients and 25 matched controls by measuring thromboxane levels in urine (11-dhTxB2) and platelet aggregation using VerifyNow(®) and light transmission aggregometry (LTA). DM2 patients were stratified for glycemic control (hemoglobin-A1c [HbA1c] ≤ 53, 53-69, ≥ 69 mmol mol(-1)). At baseline, median 11-dhTxB2 excretion was higher in the poorly controlled patients (77 ng mmol(-1)), and the moderately controlled (84 ng mmol(-1)) compared with the well-controlled patients (64 ng mmol(-1)) and controls (53 ng mmol(-1)), P < 0.01. Next, 30 mg of aspirin reduced 11-dhTxB2 excretion to 31, 29 and 24 ng mmol(-1) in the poorly, moderately and well-controlled patients, respectively, and to 19 ng mmol(-1) in controls, P < 0.001. VerifyNow(®) and LTA were also incompletely suppressed in DM2 patients using 30 mg of aspirin, but 100 mg resulted in similar platelet suppression in all groups, with no additional effect of 300 mg. DM2 patients with inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c > 53 mmol mol(-1)) have higher baseline platelet activity and incomplete suppression of platelet activity with 30 mg of aspirin. However, 100 mg of aspirin leads to optimal inhibition irrespective of glycemic control, and 300 mg does not further improve platelet suppression. © 2012 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Reconfigurable pipelined processor

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

Saccardi, R.J.

1989-09-19

This patent describes a reconfigurable pipelined processor for processing data. It comprises: a plurality of memory devices for storing bits of data; a plurality of arithmetic units for performing arithmetic functions with the data; cross bar means for connecting the memory devices with the arithmetic units for transferring data therebetween; at least one counter connected with the cross bar means for providing a source of addresses to the memory devices; at least one variable tick delay device connected with each of the memory devices and arithmetic units; and means for providing control bits to the variable tick delay device formore » variably controlling the input and output operations thereof to selectively delay the memory devices and arithmetic units to align the data for processing in a selected sequence.« less

A Field Programmable Gate Array-Based Reconfigurable Smart-Sensor Network for Wireless Monitoring of New Generation Computer Numerically Controlled Machines

PubMed Central

Moreno-Tapia, Sandra Veronica; Vera-Salas, Luis Alberto; Osornio-Rios, Roque Alfredo; Dominguez-Gonzalez, Aurelio; Stiharu, Ion; de Jesus Romero-Troncoso, Rene

2010-01-01

Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines have evolved to adapt to increasing technological and industrial requirements. To cover these needs, new generation machines have to perform monitoring strategies by incorporating multiple sensors. Since in most of applications the online Processing of the variables is essential, the use of smart sensors is necessary. The contribution of this work is the development of a wireless network platform of reconfigurable smart sensors for CNC machine applications complying with the measurement requirements of new generation CNC machines. Four different smart sensors are put under test in the network and their corresponding signal processing techniques are implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based sensor node. PMID:22163602

A field programmable gate array-based reconfigurable smart-sensor network for wireless monitoring of new generation computer numerically controlled machines.

PubMed

Moreno-Tapia, Sandra Veronica; Vera-Salas, Luis Alberto; Osornio-Rios, Roque Alfredo; Dominguez-Gonzalez, Aurelio; Stiharu, Ion; Romero-Troncoso, Rene de Jesus

2010-01-01

Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines have evolved to adapt to increasing technological and industrial requirements. To cover these needs, new generation machines have to perform monitoring strategies by incorporating multiple sensors. Since in most of applications the online Processing of the variables is essential, the use of smart sensors is necessary. The contribution of this work is the development of a wireless network platform of reconfigurable smart sensors for CNC machine applications complying with the measurement requirements of new generation CNC machines. Four different smart sensors are put under test in the network and their corresponding signal processing techniques are implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based sensor node.

Reconfigurable optofluidic switch for generation of optical pulse width modulation based on tunable reflective interface.

PubMed

Mansuori, M; Zareei, G H; Hashemi, H

2015-10-01

We present a numerical method for generation of optical pulse width modulation (PWM) based on tunable reflective interface by using a microfluidic droplet. We demonstrate a single layer, planar, optofluidic PWM switch that is driven by excited alternating microbubbles. The main parameters of generation of this PWM such as frequency and speed of switching can be controlled by the mass flow rates of input fluids, and the shape of plug or droplet. Advantages of this design are the reconfigurability in design and the easy control of the switching parameters. The validation of the proposed design is carried out by employing the finite element method (FEM) for the mechanical simulation and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) for the optical simulation.

Design and verification of wide-band, simultaneous, multi-frequency, tuning circuits for large moment transmitter loops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvorak, Steven L.; Sternberg, Ben K.; Feng, Wanjie

2017-03-01

In this paper we discuss the design and verification of wide-band, multi-frequency, tuning circuits for large-moment Transmitter (TX) loops. Since these multi-frequency, tuned-TX loops allow for the simultaneous transmission of multiple frequencies at high-current levels, they are ideally suited for frequency-domain geophysical systems that collect data while moving, such as helicopter mounted systems. Furthermore, since multi-frequency tuners use the same TX loop for all frequencies, instead of using separate tuned-TX loops for each frequency, they allow for the use of larger moment TX loops. In this paper we discuss the design and simulation of one- and three-frequency tuned TX loops and then present measurement results for a three-frequency, tuned-TX loop.

Block of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by philanthotoxins is strongly dependent on their subunit composition

PubMed Central

Kachel, Hamid S.; Patel, Rohit N.; Franzyk, Henrik; Mellor, Ian R.

2016-01-01

Philanthotoxin-433 (PhTX-433) is an active component of the venom from the Egyptian digger wasp, Philanthus triangulum. PhTX-433 inhibits several excitatory ligand-gated ion channels, and to improve selectivity two synthetic analogues, PhTX-343 and PhTX-12, were developed. Previous work showed a 22-fold selectivity of PhTX-12 over PhTX-343 for embryonic muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in TE671 cells. We investigated their inhibition of different neuronal nAChR subunit combinations as well as of embryonic muscle receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Whole-cell currents in response to application of acetylcholine alone or co-applied with PhTX analogue were studied by using two-electrode voltage-clamp. α3β4 nAChRs were most sensitive to PhTX-343 (IC50 = 12 nM at −80 mV) with α4β4, α4β2, α3β2, α7 and α1β1γδ being 5, 26, 114, 422 and 992 times less sensitive. In contrast α1β1γδ was most sensitive to PhTX-12 along with α3β4 (IC50 values of 100 nM) with α4β4, α4β2, α3β2 and α7 being 3, 3, 26 and 49 times less sensitive. PhTX-343 inhibition was strongly voltage-dependent for all subunit combinations except α7, whereas this was not the case for PhTX-12 for which weak voltage dependence was observed. We conclude that PhTX-343 mainly acts as an open-channel blocker of nAChRs with strong subtype selectivity. PMID:27901080

GUIDELINES ON SELECTION AND USE OF SNOW AND ICE CONTROL MATERIALS.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-09-19

This document presents guidelines for the selection of snow and ice control materials for winter weather roadway maintenance applications in Texas. The purpose of this document is to provide Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) roadway maintena...

Identification and Reconfigurable Control of Impaired Multi-Rotor Drones

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stepanyan, Vahram; Krishnakumar, Kalmanje; Bencomo, Alfredo

2016-01-01

The paper presents an algorithm for control and safe landing of impaired multi-rotor drones when one or more motors fail simultaneously or in any sequence. It includes three main components: an identification block, a reconfigurable control block, and a decisions making block. The identification block monitors each motor load characteristics and the current drawn, based on which the failures are detected. The control block generates the required total thrust and three axis torques for the altitude, horizontal position and/or orientation control of the drone based on the time scale separation and nonlinear dynamic inversion. The horizontal displacement is controlled by modulating the roll and pitch angles. The decision making algorithm maps the total thrust and three torques into the individual motor thrusts based on the information provided by the identification block. The drone continues the mission execution as long as the number of functioning motors provide controllability of it. Otherwise, the controller is switched to the safe mode, which gives up the yaw control, commands a safe landing spot and descent rate while maintaining the horizontal attitude.

Improving School Access Control

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, 2008

2008-01-01

Few things are more important for school safety and security than controlling access to buildings and grounds. It is relatively easy to incorporate effective access control measures in new school designs but more difficult in existing schools, where most building and site features cannot be readily altered or reconfigured. The National…

Anticonvulsant Effects of Fractions Isolated from Dinoponera quadriceps (Kempt) Ant Venom (Formicidae: Ponerinae).

PubMed

Nôga, Diana Aline Morais Ferreira; Brandão, Luiz Eduardo Mateus; Cagni, Fernanda Carvalho; Silva, Delano; de Azevedo, Dina Lilia Oliveira; Araújo, Arrilton; Dos Santos, Wagner Ferreira; Miranda, Antonio; da Silva, Regina Helena; Ribeiro, Alessandra Mussi

2016-12-23

Natural products, sources of new pharmacological substances, have large chemical diversity and architectural complexity. In this context, some toxins obtained from invertebrate venoms have anticonvulsant effects. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects about 65 million people worldwide, and approximately 30% of cases are resistant to pharmacological treatment. Previous studies from our group show that the denatured venom of the ant Dinoponera quadriceps (Kempt) protects mice against bicuculline (BIC)-induced seizures and death. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticonvulsant activity of compounds isolated from D. quadriceps venom against seizures induced by BIC in mice. Crude venom was fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) resulting in six fractions referred to as DqTx1-DqTx6. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis revealed a major 431 Da compound in fractions DqTx1 and DqTx2. Fractions DqTx3 and DqTx4 showed a compound of 2451 Da and DqTx5 revealed a 2436 Da compound. Furthermore, the DqTx6 fraction exhibited a major component with a molecular weight of 13,196 Da. Each fraction (1 mg/mL) was microinjected into the lateral ventricle of mice, and the animals were observed in an open field. We did not observe behavioral alterations when the fractions were given alone. Conversely, when the fractions were microinjected 20 min prior to the administration of BIC (21.6 nM), DqTx1, DqTx4, and DqTx6 fractions increased the latency for onset of tonic-clonic seizures. Moreover, all fractions, except DqTx5, increased latency to death. The more relevant result was obtained with the DqTx6 fraction, which protected 62.5% of the animals against tonic-clonic seizures. Furthermore, this fraction protected 100% of the animals from seizure episodes followed by death. Taken together, these findings indicate that compounds from ant venom might be a potential source of new anticonvulsants molecules.

Margatoxin-bound quantum dots as a novel inhibitor of the voltage-gated ion channel Kv1.3.

PubMed

Schwartz, Austin B; Kapur, Anshika; Wang, Wentao; Huang, Zhenbo; Fardone, Erminia; Palui, Goutam; Mattoussi, Hedi; Fadool, Debra Ann

2017-02-01

Venom-derived ion channel inhibitors have strong channel selectivity, potency, and stability; however, tracking delivery to their target can be challenging. Herein, we utilized luminescent quantum dots (QDs) conjugated to margatoxin (MgTx) as a traceable vehicle to target a voltage-dependent potassium channel, Kv1.3, which has a select distribution and well-characterized role in immunity, glucose metabolism, and sensory ability. We screened both unconjugated (MgTx) and conjugated MgTx (QD-MgTx) for their ability to inhibit Shaker channels Kv1.1 to Kv1.7 using patch-clamp electrophysiology in HEK293 cells. Our data indicate that MgTx inhibits 79% of the outward current in Kv1.3-transfected cells and that the QD-MgTx conjugate is able to achieve a similar level of block, albeit a slightly reduced efficacy (66%) and at a slower time course (50% block by 10.9 ± 1.1 min, MgTx; vs. 15.3 ± 1.2 min, QD-MgTx). Like the unbound peptide, the QD-MgTx conjugate inhibits both Kv1.3 and Kv1.2 at a 1 nM concentration, whereas it does not inhibit other screened Shaker channels. We tested the ability of QD-MgTx to inhibit native Kv1.3 expressed in the mouse olfactory bulb (OB). In brain slices of the OB, the conjugate acted similarly to MgTx to inhibit Kv1.3, causing an increased action potential firing frequency attributed to decreased intraburst duration rather than interspike interval. Our data demonstrate a retention of known biophysical properties associated with block of the vestibule of Kv1.3 by QD-MgTx conjugate compared to that of MgTx, inferring QDs could provide a useful tool to deliver ion channel inhibitors to targeted tissues in vivo. © 2016 International Society for Neurochemistry.

Platelet aggregation caused by a partially purified jellyfish toxin from Carybdea rastonii.

PubMed

Azuma, H; Sekizaki, S; Satoh, A; Nakajima, T; Ishikawa, M

1986-01-01

A partially purified toxin (pCrTX) was obtained from the tentacles of the jellyfish, Carybdea rastonii. When pCrTX (3 X 10(-8) - 3 X 10(-7) g/ml) was added to citrated platelet-rich plasma, aggregation was produced in a concentration-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed that both pCrTX and collagen produced aggregates of platelets possessing many pseudopods. The concentration which produced 50% aggregation for pCrTX was 1.8 X 10(-7) g/ml, as compared to 2.3 X 10(-6) g/ml for collagen. The pCrTX-induced aggregation was only slightly inhibited by indomethacin and quinacrine in concentrations sufficient to inhibit arachidonic acid- and collagen-induced aggregation. pCrTX was less active in washed platelets suspended in Ca2+ free medium, whereas the pCrTX-induced aggregation was significantly augmented in the presence of Ca2+. The augmentation of aggregation by Ca2+ was only slightly attenuated by pretreatment with 100 microM verapamil. pCrTX significantly increased the concentration of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and depolarized the platelet membrane in concentrations that produced aggregation. The increase in [Ca2+]i caused by pCrTX was little affected by verapamil. The depolarization by pCrTX was unchanged in the presence or absence of Ca2+, or by sodium or potassium transport inhibitors. The movement of 22Na+ into platelets was significantly increased by pCrTX. This increase in the movement of 22N+ into platelets was unaffected by tetrodotoxin. On the other hand, pCrTX-induced aggregation, depolarization and the increase in [Ca2+]i were all significantly attenuated in low Na+ medium. These results suggest that pCrTX causes a massive depolarization by increasing cation permeability indiscriminately and this generalized depolarization permits an inward movement of calcium down an electrochemical gradient which, in turn triggers platelet aggregation.

Modelling the protocol stack in NCS with deterministic and stochastic petri net

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hui, Chen; Chunjie, Zhou; Weifeng, Zhu

2011-06-01

Protocol stack is the basis of the networked control systems (NCS). Full or partial reconfiguration of protocol stack offers both optimised communication service and system performance. Nowadays, field testing is unrealistic to determine the performance of reconfigurable protocol stack; and the Petri net formal description technique offers the best combination of intuitive representation, tool support and analytical capabilities. Traditionally, separation between the different layers of the OSI model has been a common practice. Nevertheless, such a layered modelling analysis framework of protocol stack leads to the lack of global optimisation for protocol reconfiguration. In this article, we proposed a general modelling analysis framework for NCS based on the cross-layer concept, which is to establish an efficiency system scheduling model through abstracting the time constraint, the task interrelation, the processor and the bus sub-models from upper and lower layers (application, data link and physical layer). Cross-layer design can help to overcome the inadequacy of global optimisation based on information sharing between protocol layers. To illustrate the framework, we take controller area network (CAN) as a case study. The simulation results of deterministic and stochastic Petri-net (DSPN) model can help us adjust the message scheduling scheme and obtain better system performance.

Intelligent Reconfigurable System with Self-Dammage Assessmentand Control Stress Capabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trivailo, P.; Plotnikova, L.; Kao, T. W.

2002-01-01

Modern space structures are constructed using a modular approach that facilitates their transportation and assembly in space. Modular architecture of space structures also enables reconfiguration of large structures such that they can adapt to possible changes in environment, and also allows use of the limited structural resources available in space for completion of a much larger variety of tasks. An increase in size and complexity demands development of materials with a "smart" or active structural modulus and also of effective control algorithms to control the motion of large flexible structures. This challenging task has generated a lot of interest amongst scientists and engineers during the last two decades, however, research into the development of control schemes which can adapt to structural configuration changes has received less attention. This is possibly due to the increased complexity caused by alterations in geometry, which inevitably lead to changes in the dynamic properties of the system. This paper presents results of the application of a decentralized control approach for active control of large flexible structures undergoing significant reconfigurations. The Control Component Synthesis methodology was used to build controlled components and to assemble them into a controlled flexible structure that meets required performance specifications. To illustrate the efficiency of the method, numerical simulations were conducted for 2D and 3D modular truss structures and a multi-link beam system. In each case the performance of the decentralized control system has been evaluated using pole location maps, step and impulse response simulations and frequency response analysis. The performance of the decentralized control system has been measured against the optimal centralised control system for various excitation scenarios. A special case where one of the local component controllers fails was also examined. For better interpretation of the efficiency of the designed controllers, results of the simulations are illustrated using a Virtual Reality computer environment, offering advanced visual effects. Plotnikova@rmit.edu.au # Tsunwah@hotmail.com

Adaptive Instrument Module: Space Instrument Controller "Brain" through Programmable Logic Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Darrin, Ann Garrison; Conde, Richard; Chern, Bobbie; Luers, Phil; Jurczyk, Steve; Mills, Carl; Day, John H. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The Adaptive Instrument Module (AIM) will be the first true demonstration of reconfigurable computing with field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) in space, enabling the 'brain' of the system to evolve or adapt to changing requirements. In partnership with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems (CRC-SS), APL has built the flight version to be flown on the Australian university-class satellite FEDSAT. The AIM provides satellites the flexibility to adapt to changing mission requirements by reconfiguring standardized processing hardware rather than incurring the large costs associated with new builds. This ability to reconfigure the processing in response to changing mission needs leads to true evolveable computing, wherein the instrument 'brain' can learn from new science data in order to perform state-of-the-art data processing. The development of the AIM is significant in its enormous potential to reduce total life-cycle costs for future space exploration missions. The advent of RAM-based FPGAs whose configuration can be changed at any time has enabled the development of the AIM for processing tasks that could not be performed in software. The use of the AIM enables reconfiguration of the FPGA circuitry while the spacecraft is in flight, with many accompanying advantages. The AIM demonstrates the practicalities of using reconfigurable computing hardware devices by conducting a series of designed experiments. These include the demonstration of implementing data compression, data filtering, and communication message processing and inter-experiment data computation. The second generation is the Adaptive Processing Template (ADAPT) which is further described in this paper. The next step forward is to make the hardware itself adaptable and the ADAPT pursues this challenge by developing a reconfigurable module that will be capable of functioning efficiently in various applications. ADAPT will take advantage of radiation tolerant RAM-based field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology to develop a reconfigurable processor that combines the flexibility of a general purpose processor running software with the performance of application specific processing hardware for a variety of high performance computing applications.

Relevance of Flow Cytometric Auto-Crossmatch to the Post-transplant Course of Kidney Transplant Recipients.

PubMed

Demir, E; Yeğit, O; Erol, A; Akgül, S U; Çalışkan, B; Bayraktar, A; Çalışkan, Y; Türkmen, A; Savran, F O; Sever, M S

2017-04-01

The crossmatch test is essential prior to kidney transplantation (tx) to confirm compatibility between the donor and the recipient. However, its results can be misleading due to "undetectable antibodies" in the recipient's serum. To establish if undetectable autoantibodies are responsible for a positive result, an auto-crossmatch test can be performed. In this study, we aim to determine the long-term prognostic value of auto-flow cytometric auto-crossmatch (FCXM) test on kidney survival in kidney tx recipients. The primary outcome variable was reduced renal function. Secondary endpoints were incidence of biopsy-confirmed chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR) and recurrent glomerulonephritis (GN). There were no differences regarding initial serum creatinine levels between the study and control groups (P = .441). Patients who had positive auto-B FCXM had a significantly reduced renal function compared with the control group (P = .016). Four patients developed biopsy-confirmed CAMR in the study group and 1 patient in the control group (P = .047). Five patients had biopsy-confirmed recurrent GN in the GN study group, and only 1 patient had recurrent GN in the GN control group (P = .026). Kidney transplant recipients with positive auto-FCXM test had significantly reduced renal function and a higher incidence of recurrent GN and CAMR compared with the control group. The findings of this study suggest a potential role of auto-antibody causing positive auto-FCXM test result, meanwhile increasing the risk of CAMR, recurrent GN, and new-onset diabetes after tx. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

76 FR 70422 - Procurement List Additions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-14

...., Austin, TX Research Park, 2301 Research Blvd., Bldg. 4, Austin, TX Rundberg Building, 825 E. Rundberg...., Austin, TX 53 North Sixth Street, New Bedford, MA 75 Perseverance Way, Hyannis, MA One Montvale Ave... Center & Tax Break Caf[eacute], 3651 S. IH-35, Austin, TX Connection Warehouse, 2021 East Woodward...

LyeTxI-b, a Synthetic Peptide Derived From Lycosa erythrognatha Spider Venom, Shows Potent Antibiotic Activity in Vitro and in Vivo.

PubMed

Reis, Pablo V M; Boff, Daiane; Verly, Rodrigo M; Melo-Braga, Marcella N; Cortés, María E; Santos, Daniel M; Pimenta, Adriano M de C; Amaral, Flávio A; Resende, Jarbas M; de Lima, Maria E

2018-01-01

The antimicrobial peptide LyeTxI isolated from the venom of the spider Lycosa erythrognatha is a potential model to develop new antibiotics against bacteria and fungi. In this work, we studied a peptide derived from LyeTxI, named LyeTxI-b, and characterized its structural profile and its in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities. Compared to LyeTxI, LyeTxI-b has an acetylated N-terminal and a deletion of a His residue, as structural modifications. The secondary structure of LyeTxI-b is a well-defined helical segment, from the second amino acid to the amidated C-terminal, with no clear partition between hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces. Moreover, LyeTxI-b shows a potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative planktonic bacteria, being 10-fold more active than the native peptide against Escherichia coli. LyeTxI-b was also active in an in vivo model of septic arthritis, reducing the number of bacteria load, the migration of immune cells, the level of IL-1β cytokine and CXCL1 chemokine, as well as preventing cartilage damage. Our results show that LyeTxI-b is a potential therapeutic model for the development of new antibiotics against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

LyeTxI-b, a Synthetic Peptide Derived From Lycosa erythrognatha Spider Venom, Shows Potent Antibiotic Activity in Vitro and in Vivo

PubMed Central

Reis, Pablo V. M.; Boff, Daiane; Verly, Rodrigo M.; Melo-Braga, Marcella N.; Cortés, María E.; Santos, Daniel M.; Pimenta, Adriano M. de C.; Amaral, Flávio A.; Resende, Jarbas M.; de Lima, Maria E.

2018-01-01

The antimicrobial peptide LyeTxI isolated from the venom of the spider Lycosa erythrognatha is a potential model to develop new antibiotics against bacteria and fungi. In this work, we studied a peptide derived from LyeTxI, named LyeTxI-b, and characterized its structural profile and its in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities. Compared to LyeTxI, LyeTxI-b has an acetylated N-terminal and a deletion of a His residue, as structural modifications. The secondary structure of LyeTxI-b is a well-defined helical segment, from the second amino acid to the amidated C-terminal, with no clear partition between hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces. Moreover, LyeTxI-b shows a potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative planktonic bacteria, being 10-fold more active than the native peptide against Escherichia coli. LyeTxI-b was also active in an in vivo model of septic arthritis, reducing the number of bacteria load, the migration of immune cells, the level of IL-1β cytokine and CXCL1 chemokine, as well as preventing cartilage damage. Our results show that LyeTxI-b is a potential therapeutic model for the development of new antibiotics against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. PMID:29681894

Shaping Crystal-Crystal Phase Transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Xiyu; van Anders, Greg; Dshemuchadse, Julia; Glotzer, Sharon

Previous computational and experimental studies have shown self-assembled structure depends strongly on building block shape. New synthesis techniques have led to building blocks with reconfigurable shape and it has been demonstrated that building block reconfiguration can induce bulk structural reconfiguration. However, we do not understand systematically how this transition happens as a function of building block shape. Using a recently developed ``digital alchemy'' framework, we study the thermodynamics of shape-driven crystal-crystal transitions. We find examples of shape-driven bulk reconfiguration that are accompanied by first-order phase transitions, and bulk reconfiguration that occurs without any thermodynamic phase transition. Our results suggest that for well-chosen shapes and structures, there exist facile means of bulk reconfiguration, and that shape-driven bulk reconfiguration provides a viable mechanism for developing functional materials.

Neuropsychological Changes in Primary Hyperparathyroidism after Parathyroidectomy.

PubMed

Liu, Jessica Y; Saunders, Neil D; Chen, Aaron; Weber, Collin J; Sharma, Jyotirmay

2016-09-01

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) of sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are often subtle and effects of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on symptoms remains poorly characterized. Our aim was to evaluate effects of PTX on NPS in patients with PHPT. A prospective questionnaire was distributed to all patients undergoing PTX and to a thyroidectomy (TX) control group. The questionnaire included the validated scales Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to assess for depression and anxiety respectively, as well as questions modified from Pasieka's Parathyroid Assessment of Symptoms (M-PAS). Point values were assigned to questionnaire answers to create a score, with a maximum of 63. Fifty-eight patients underwent PTX (58.6%) and 41 TX (41.4%). Mean preoperative scores were greater in PTX versus TX patients in total score, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and M-PAS (all P < 0.05). Post-PTX scores were lower than pre-PTX in total score, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and M-PAS (all P < 0.05), but not in pre- and post-TX. Post-PTX 69.0 and 82.8 per cent of patients showed no symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively, compared with 37.9 and 56.9 per cent pre-PTX. A total of 16.2 and 10.3 per cent of patients had moderately severe to severe depression and anxiety, which fell to 0 per cent post-PTX. NPSs are more common in patients with PHPT when compared with TX. Patients undergoing PTX have improvements in NPS. NPS scoring should occur in all patients with PHPT and severity of NPS should be considered a relative indication for PTX.

Detail view of the interior of the flight deck looking ...

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

Detail view of the interior of the flight deck looking forward showing the overhead control panels. Note that the flight deck windows have protective covers over them in this view. This images can be digitally stitched with image HAER No. TX-116-A-19 to expand the view to include the Commander and Pilot positions during ascent and reentry and landing. This view was taken in the Orbiter Processing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center. - Space Transportation System, Orbiter Discovery (OV-103), Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX

78 FR 6334 - Housing Choice Voucher Program; Office of Public and Indian Housing Announcement of Funding...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-30

... ALLEN HA 2301 JASMINE AVE, MC ALLEN, TX 80 336,384 78501. VA: ALEXANDRIA REDEV & HA 600 N FAIRFAX ST... ANTONIO, TX 0 19,600 78295. TX: MC ALLEN HA 2301 JASMINE AVE, MC ALLEN, TX 0 15,800 78501. VA: ALEXANDRIA...

Evaluation of Advanced Computing Techniques and Technologies: Reconfigurable Computing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, B. Earl

2003-01-01

The focus of this project was to survey the technology of reconfigurable computing determine its level of maturity and suitability for NASA applications. To better understand and assess the effectiveness of the reconfigurable design paradigm that is utilized within the HAL-15 reconfigurable computer system. This system was made available to NASA MSFC for this purpose, from Star Bridge Systems, Inc. To implement on at least one application that would benefit from the performance levels that are possible with reconfigurable hardware. It was originally proposed that experiments in fault tolerance and dynamically reconfigurability would be perform but time constraints mandated that these be pursued as future research.

Acute hospital reconfiguration and self-harm presentations: a before-and-after study.

PubMed

Griffin, Eve; Murphy, Catherine; Perry, Ivan J; Lynch, Brenda; Arensman, Ella; Corcoran, Paul

2018-03-27

The evidence for improved patient outcomes following acute hospital reconfiguration is limited. We assessed the impact of the reconfiguration of acute services within a hospital group in terms of the number and clinical management of self-harm presentations. The study was conducted across the three Mid-Western regional hospitals in Ireland during 2004-2014. Reconfiguration in April 2009 involved two hospitals reducing the operation of their emergency departments (EDs) from 24 to 12 h. We used Poisson regression analysis of data from the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland to assess change in the hospital burden and clinical management of self-harm associated with the reconfiguration. We observed that the cumulative decrease in self-harm presentations at the two reconfigured hospitals was of a similar magnitude to the increase observed at the larger hospital. Despite this large increase in presentations, there was only a small increase in admissions. Reconfiguration of hospital services was also associated with changes in the provision of assessments for self-harm patients. There is evidence to suggest that acute hospital reconfiguration of hospital services impacts on patterns of patient flow. Findings have implications for those implementing reconfiguration of acute services.

On Restructurable Control System Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Athans, M.

1983-01-01

The state of stochastic system and control theory as it impacts restructurable control issues is addressed. The multivariable characteristics of the control problem are addressed. The failure detection/identification problem is discussed as a multi-hypothesis testing problem. Control strategy reconfiguration, static multivariable controls, static failure hypothesis testing, dynamic multivariable controls, fault-tolerant control theory, dynamic hypothesis testing, generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) methods, and adaptive control are discussed.

Reconfigurable assembly work station

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

Lin, Yhu-Tin; Abell, Jeffrey A.; Spicer, John Patrick

A reconfigurable autonomous workstation includes a multi-faced superstructure including a horizontally-arranged frame section supported on a plurality of posts. The posts form a plurality of vertical faces arranged between adjacent pairs of the posts, the faces including first and second faces and a power distribution and position reference face. A controllable robotic arm suspends from the rectangular frame section, and a work table fixedly couples to the power distribution and position reference face. A plurality of conveyor tables are fixedly coupled to the work table including a first conveyor table through the first face and a second conveyor table throughmore » the second face. A vision system monitors the work table and each of the conveyor tables. A programmable controller monitors signal inputs from the vision system to identify and determine orientation of the component on the first conveyor table and control the robotic arm to execute an assembly task.« less

Emergency strategy optimization for the environmental control system in manned spacecraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Guoxiang; Pang, Liping; Liu, Meng; Fang, Yufeng; Zhang, Helin

2018-02-01

It is very important for a manned environmental control system (ECS) to be able to reconfigure its operation strategy in emergency conditions. In this article, a multi-objective optimization is established to design the optimal emergency strategy for an ECS in an insufficient power supply condition. The maximum ECS lifetime and the minimum power consumption are chosen as the optimization objectives. Some adjustable key variables are chosen as the optimization variables, which finally represent the reconfigured emergency strategy. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II is adopted to solve this multi-objective optimization problem. Optimization processes are conducted at four different carbon dioxide partial pressure control levels. The study results show that the Pareto-optimal frontiers obtained from this multi-objective optimization can represent the relationship between the lifetime and the power consumption of the ECS. Hence, the preferred emergency operation strategy can be recommended for situations when there is suddenly insufficient power.

Reconfigurable Complementary Logic Circuits with Ambipolar Organic Transistors

PubMed Central

Yoo, Hocheon; Ghittorelli, Matteo; Smits, Edsger C. P.; Gelinck, Gerwin H.; Lee, Han-Koo; Torricelli, Fabrizio; Kim, Jae-Joon

2016-01-01

Ambipolar organic electronics offer great potential for simple and low-cost fabrication of complementary logic circuits on large-area and mechanically flexible substrates. Ambipolar transistors are ideal candidates for the simple and low-cost development of complementary logic circuits since they can operate as n-type and p-type transistors. Nevertheless, the experimental demonstration of ambipolar organic complementary circuits is limited to inverters. The control of the transistor polarity is crucial for proper circuit operation. Novel gating techniques enable to control the transistor polarity but result in dramatically reduced performances. Here we show high-performance non-planar ambipolar organic transistors with electrical control of the polarity and orders of magnitude higher performances with respect to state-of-art split-gate ambipolar transistors. Electrically reconfigurable complementary logic gates based on ambipolar organic transistors are experimentally demonstrated, thus opening up new opportunities for ambipolar organic complementary electronics. PMID:27762321

Reconfigurable Complementary Logic Circuits with Ambipolar Organic Transistors.

PubMed

Yoo, Hocheon; Ghittorelli, Matteo; Smits, Edsger C P; Gelinck, Gerwin H; Lee, Han-Koo; Torricelli, Fabrizio; Kim, Jae-Joon

2016-10-20

Ambipolar organic electronics offer great potential for simple and low-cost fabrication of complementary logic circuits on large-area and mechanically flexible substrates. Ambipolar transistors are ideal candidates for the simple and low-cost development of complementary logic circuits since they can operate as n-type and p-type transistors. Nevertheless, the experimental demonstration of ambipolar organic complementary circuits is limited to inverters. The control of the transistor polarity is crucial for proper circuit operation. Novel gating techniques enable to control the transistor polarity but result in dramatically reduced performances. Here we show high-performance non-planar ambipolar organic transistors with electrical control of the polarity and orders of magnitude higher performances with respect to state-of-art split-gate ambipolar transistors. Electrically reconfigurable complementary logic gates based on ambipolar organic transistors are experimentally demonstrated, thus opening up new opportunities for ambipolar organic complementary electronics.

76 FR 70365 - Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Austin, TX and Waco, TX, Appropriated Fund Federal...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-14

... 3206-AM50 Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Austin, TX and Waco, TX, Appropriated Fund... the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee to best match the counties proposed for redefinition to... Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the national labor-management committee responsible for advising...

75 FR 58339 - Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Shreveport, LA; Texarkana, TX; Milwaukee, WI; and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-24

... 3206-AM28 Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Shreveport, LA; Texarkana, TX; Milwaukee, WI...; Texarkana, TX; Milwaukee, WI; and Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The proposed rule would redefine Upshur County, TX, from the Texarkana wage area to the...

76 FR 9639 - Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Shreveport, LA; Texarkana, TX; Milwaukee, WI; and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-22

... Shreveport, LA; Texarkana, TX; Milwaukee, WI; and Southwestern Wisconsin Appropriated Fund Federal Wage... Shreveport, LA; Texarkana, TX; Milwaukee, WI; and Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The final rule redefines Upshur County, TX, from the Texarkana wage area to the...

75 FR 13669 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Dumas, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-23

...-1151; Airspace Docket No. 09-ASW-30] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Dumas, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace for Dumas, TX, adding... published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Class E airspace for Dumas, TX...

76 FR 61687 - City of College Station, TX; Notice of Filing

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-05

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. TX11-2-000] City of College Station, TX; Notice of Filing Take notice that on September 27, 2011, pursuant to sections 210, 211, and... Commission's (Commission) Regulations, 18CFR 36.1, the City of College Station, TX filed an application...

75 FR 31677 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Austin, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-04

...-1152; Airspace Docket No. 09-ASW-31] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Austin, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace for the Austin, TX... Procedures (SIAPs) at Austin Executive Airport, Austin, TX. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the...

Brevetoxin-2, is a unique inhibitor of the C-terminal redox center of mammalian thioredoxin reductase-1.

PubMed

Chen, Wei; Tuladhar, Anupama; Rolle, Shantelle; Lai, Yanhao; Rodriguez Del Rey, Freddy; Zavala, Cristian E; Liu, Yuan; Rein, Kathleen S

2017-08-15

Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide dinoflagellate produces a suite of neurotoxins known as the brevetoxins. The most abundant of the brevetoxins PbTx-2, was found to inhibit the thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase system, whereas the PbTx-3 has no effect on this system. On the other hand, PbTx-2 activates the reduction of small disulfides such as 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) by thioredoxin reductase. PbTx-2 has an α, β-unsaturated aldehyde moiety which functions as an efficient electrophile and selenocysteine conjugates are readily formed. PbTx-2 blocks the inhibition of TrxR by the inhibitor curcumin, whereas curcumin blocks PbTx-2 activation of TrxR. It is proposed that the mechanism of inhibition of thioredoxin reduction is via the formation of a Michael adduct between selenocysteine and the α, β-unsaturated aldehyde moiety of PbTx-2. PbTx-2 had no effect on the rates of reactions catalyzed by related enzymes such as glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase or glutaredoxin. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reconfigurable Computing Concepts for Space Missions: Universal Modular Spares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patrick, M. Clinton

2007-01-01

Computing hardware for control, data collection, and other purposes will prove many times over crucial resources in NASA's upcoming space missions. Ability to provide these resources within mission payload requirements, with the hardiness to operate for extended periods under potentially harsh conditions in off-World environments, is daunting enough without considering the possibility of doing so with conventional electronics. This paper examines some ideas and options, and proposes some initial approaches, for logical design of reconfigurable computing resources offering true modularity, universal compatibility, and unprecedented flexibility to service all forms and needs of mission infrastructure.

Hepatic retransplantation in New England--a regional experience and survival model.

PubMed

Powelson, J A; Cosimi, A B; Lewis, W D; Rohrer, R J; Freeman, R B; Vacanti, J P; Jonas, M; Lorber, M I; Marks, W H; Bradley, J

1993-04-01

Hepatic retransplantation (reTx) offers the only alternative to death for patients who have failed primary hepatic transplantation (PTx). Assuming a finite number of donor organs, reTx also denies the chance of survival for some patients awaiting PTx. The impact of reTx on overall survival (i.e., the survival of all candidates for transplantation) must therefore be clarified. Between 1983 and 1991, 651 patients from the New England Organ Bank underwent liver transplantation, and 73 reTx were performed in 71 patients (11% reTx rate). The 1-year actuarial survival for reTx (48%) was significantly less than for PTx (70%, P < 0.05). This survival varied, dependent on the interval of time following PTx in which the reTx was performed (0-3 days, 57% survival; 4-30 days, 24%; 30-365 days, 54%; and > 365 days, 83%). Patients on the regional waiting list had an 18% mortality rate while awaiting transplantation. These results were incorporated into a mathematical model describing survival as a function of reTx rate, assuming a limited supply of donor livers. ReTx improves the 1-year survival rate for patients undergoing PTx but decreases overall survival (survival of all candidates) for liver transplantation. In the current era of persistently insufficient donor numbers, strategies based on minimizing the use of reTx, especially in the case of patients in whom chances of success are minimal, will result in the best overall rate of patient survival.

Contingent attentional capture across multiple feature dimensions in a temporal search task.

PubMed

Ito, Motohiro; Kawahara, Jun I

2016-01-01

The present study examined whether attention can be flexibly controlled to monitor two different feature dimensions (shape and color) in a temporal search task. Specifically, we investigated the occurrence of contingent attentional capture (i.e., interference from task-relevant distractors) and resulting set reconfiguration (i.e., enhancement of single task-relevant set). If observers can restrict searches to a specific value for each relevant feature dimension independently, the capture and reconfiguration effect should only occur when the single relevant distractor in each dimension appears. Participants identified a target letter surrounded by a non-green square or a non-square green frame. The results revealed contingent attentional capture, as target identification accuracy was lower when the distractor contained a target-defining feature than when it contained a nontarget feature. Resulting set reconfiguration was also obtained in that accuracy was superior when the current target's feature (e.g., shape) corresponded to the defining feature of the present distractor (shape) than when the current target's feature did not match the distractor's feature (color). This enhancement was not due to perceptual priming. The present study demonstrated that the principles of contingent attentional capture and resulting set reconfiguration held even when multiple target feature dimensions were monitored. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Operational Dynamic Configuration Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lai, Chok Fung; Zelinski, Shannon

2010-01-01

Sectors may combine or split within areas of specialization in response to changing traffic patterns. This method of managing capacity and controller workload could be made more flexible by dynamically modifying sector boundaries. Much work has been done on methods for dynamically creating new sector boundaries [1-5]. Many assessments of dynamic configuration methods assume the current day baseline configuration remains fixed [6-7]. A challenging question is how to select a dynamic configuration baseline to assess potential benefits of proposed dynamic configuration concepts. Bloem used operational sector reconfigurations as a baseline [8]. The main difficulty is that operational reconfiguration data is noisy. Reconfigurations often occur frequently to accommodate staff training or breaks, or to complete a more complicated reconfiguration through a rapid sequence of simpler reconfigurations. Gupta quantified a few aspects of airspace boundary changes from this data [9]. Most of these metrics are unique to sector combining operations and not applicable to more flexible dynamic configuration concepts. To better understand what sort of reconfigurations are acceptable or beneficial, more configuration change metrics should be developed and their distribution in current practice should be computed. This paper proposes a method to select a simple sequence of configurations among operational configurations to serve as a dynamic configuration baseline for future dynamic configuration concept assessments. New configuration change metrics are applied to the operational data to establish current day thresholds for these metrics. These thresholds are then corroborated, refined, or dismissed based on airspace practitioner feedback. The dynamic configuration baseline selection method uses a k-means clustering algorithm to select the sequence of configurations and trigger times from a given day of operational sector combination data. The clustering algorithm selects a simplified schedule containing k configurations based on stability score of the sector combinations among the raw operational configurations. In addition, the number of the selected configurations is determined based on balance between accuracy and assessment complexity.

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO VALUING WATER FROM BRUSH CONTROL

EPA Science Inventory

An analytical methodology utilizing models from three disciplines is developed to assess the viability of brush control for wate yield in the Frio River Basin, TX. Ecological, hydrologic, and economic models are used to portray changes in forage production and water supply result...

47 CFR 2.925 - Identification of equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... common chassis or circuit board, and with common frequency controlling circuits. Devices to which a... common enclosure, but constructed on separate sub-units or circuit boards with independent frequency controlling circuits. The FCC Identifier assigned to any transmitter section shall be preceded by the term TX...

47 CFR 2.925 - Identification of equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... common chassis or circuit board, and with common frequency controlling circuits. Devices to which a... common enclosure, but constructed on separate sub-units or circuit boards with independent frequency controlling circuits. The FCC Identifier assigned to any transmitter section shall be preceded by the term TX...

47 CFR 2.925 - Identification of equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... common chassis or circuit board, and with common frequency controlling circuits. Devices to which a... common enclosure, but constructed on separate sub-units or circuit boards with independent frequency controlling circuits. The FCC Identifier assigned to any transmitter section shall be preceded by the term TX...

47 CFR 2.925 - Identification of equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... common chassis or circuit board, and with common frequency controlling circuits. Devices to which a... common enclosure, but constructed on separate sub-units or circuit boards with independent frequency controlling circuits. The FCC Identifier assigned to any transmitter section shall be preceded by the term TX...

Passive band-gap reconfiguration born from bifurcation asymmetry.

PubMed

Bernard, Brian P; Mann, Brian P

2013-11-01

Current periodic structures are constrained to have fixed energy transmission behavior unless active control or component replacement is used to alter their wave propagation characteristics. The introduction of nonlinearity to generate multiple stable equilibria is an alternative strategy for realizing distinct energy propagation behaviors. We investigate the creation of a reconfigurable band-gap system by implementing passive switching between multiple stable states of equilibrium, to alter the level of energy attenuation in response to environmental stimuli. The ability to avoid potentially catastrophic loads is demonstrated by tailoring the bandpass and band-gap regions to coalesce for two stable equilibria and varying an external load parameter to trigger a bifurcation. The proposed phenomenon could be utilized in remote or autonomous applications where component modifications and active control are impractical.

Reconfigurable OR and XOR logic gates based on dual responsive on-off-on micromotors.

PubMed

Dong, Yonggang; Liu, Mei; Zhang, Hui; Dong, Bin

2016-04-21

In this study, we report a hemisphere-like micromotor. Intriguingly, the micromotor exhibits controllable on-off-on motion, which can be actuated by two different external stimuli (UV and NH3). Moreover, the moving direction of the micromotor can be manipulated by the direction in which UV and NH3 are applied. As a result, the motion accelerates when both stimuli are applied in the same direction and decelerates when the application directions are opposite to each other. More interestingly, the dual stimuli responsive micromotor can be utilized as a reconfigurable logic gate with UV and NH3 as the inputs and the motion of the micromotor as the output. By controlling the direction of the external stimuli, OR and XOR dual logic functions can be realized.

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

Simpson, L.; Britt, J.; Birkmire, R.

ITN Energy Systems, Inc., and Global Solar Energy, Inc., assisted by NREL's PV Manufacturing R&D program, have continued to advance CIGS production technology by developing trajectory-oriented predictive/control models, fault-tolerance control, control platform development, in-situ sensors, and process improvements. Modeling activities included developing physics-based and empirical models for CIGS and sputter-deposition processing, implementing model-based control, and applying predictive models to the construction of new evaporation sources and for control. Model-based control is enabled by implementing reduced or empirical models into a control platform. Reliability improvement activities include implementing preventive maintenance schedules; detecting failed sensors/equipment and reconfiguring to tinue processing; and systematicmore » development of fault prevention and reconfiguration strategies for the full range of CIGS PV production deposition processes. In-situ sensor development activities have resulted in improved control and indicated the potential for enhanced process status monitoring and control of the deposition processes. Substantial process improvements have been made, including significant improvement in CIGS uniformity, thickness control, efficiency, yield, and throughput. In large measure, these gains have been driven by process optimization, which in turn have been enabled by control and reliability improvements due to this PV Manufacturing R&D program.« less

Cycling exercise and fetal spinal cord transplantation act synergistically on atrophied muscle following chronic spinal cord injury in rats.

PubMed

Peterson, C A; Murphy, R J; Dupont-Versteegden, E E; Houlé, J D

2000-01-01

The potential of two interventions, alone or in combination, to restore chronic spinal cord transection-induced changes in skeletal muscles of adult Sprague-Dawley rats was studied. Hind limb skeletal muscles were examined in the following groups of animals: rats with a complete spinal cord transection (Tx) for 8 weeks; Tx with a 4-week delay before initiation of a 4-week motor-assisted cycling exercise (Ex) program; Tx with a 4-week delay before transplantation (Tp) of fetal spinal cord tissue into the lesion cavity; Tx with a 4-week delay before Tp and Ex; and uninjured control animals. Muscle mass, muscle to body mass ratios, and mean myofiber cross-sectional areas were significantly reduced 8 weeks after transection. Whereas transplantation of fetal spinal cord tissue did not reverse this atrophy and exercise alone had only a modest effect in restoring lost muscle mass, the combination of exercise and transplantation significantly increased muscle mass, muscle to body mass ratios, and mean myofiber cross-sectional areas in both soleus and plantaris muscles. Spinal cord injury (SCI) also caused changes in myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression toward faster isoforms in both soleus and plantaris and increased soleus myofiber succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity. Combined exercise and transplantation led to a change in the expression of the fastest MyHC isoform in soleus but had no effect in the plantaris. Exercise alone and in combination with transplantation reduced SDH activity to control levels in the soleus. These results suggest a synergistic action of exercise and transplantation of fetal spinal cord tissue on skeletal muscle properties following SCI, even after an extended post-injury period before intervention.

Neonatal thymectomy favors Helicobacter pylori-promoted gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma lesions in BALB/c mice.

PubMed

Chrisment, Delphine; Dubus, Pierre; Chambonnier, Lucie; Hocès de la Guardia, Anaïs; Sifré, Elodie; Giese, Alban; Capone, Myriam; Khairallah, Camille; Costet, Pierre; Rousseau, Benoît; Hubert, Christophe; Burlen-Defranoux, Odile; Varon, Christine; Bandeira, Antonio; Mégraud, Francis; Lehours, Philippe

2014-08-01

Neonatal thymectomy in BALB/c mice has been described as a model of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (GML). By using this experimental system, we screened, for the first time to our knowledge, Helicobacter pylori GML-associated strains for their capacity to promote disease. A cohort of BALB/c mice underwent thymectomy at day 3 after birth (d3Tx). Successful thymic ablation was evaluated by the degree of lymphopenia in blood samples collected at 4 weeks of age. d3Tx and non-thymectomized controls were infected with either GML strains (B38 or B47) or control strains (SS1 or TN2GF4). Gastric samples collected at 6, 12, and 18 months after infection were studied for bacteria content, and submitted to histological, immunochemical, molecular, and immunological analyses. Severe gastric inflammation was only observed in d3Tx mice. In these animals, the gastric lamina propria was infiltrated with lymphoid cells organized in follicles composed of B cells with few infiltrating T cells. PCR of D/J IgH gene segments proved the monoclonality of infiltrating B cells, which strongly correlated with the presence of lymphoepithelial lesions. B-cell infiltrates were particularly prominent in mice infected with the B47-GML strain. No pathological changes were detected in noninfected d3Tx mice. We identified new H. pylori isolates adapted to the mouse stomach with high potential of GML development, which is only revealed in hosts rendered lymphopenic by neonatal thymic ablation. Copyright © 2014 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

75 FR 6319 - Proposed Amendment of Low Altitude Area Navigation Route T-254; Houston, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-09

... Amendment of Low Altitude Area Navigation Route T-254; Houston, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration... altitude Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-254 in the Houston, TX, terminal area by eliminating the segment..., TX, VORTAC. This action would eliminate a portion of T-254 that is no longer needed; thus, enhance...

76 FR 5303 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Carrizo Springs, Glass Ranch Airport, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-31

...-0877; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASW-13] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Carrizo Springs, Glass... rulemaking (NPRM). SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E airspace for the Carrizo Springs, Glass.... * * * * * ASW TX E5 Carrizo Springs, Glass Ranch Airport, TX [Amended] Carrizo Springs, Glass Ranch Airport, TX...

Human metabolites of brevetoxin PbTx-2: Identification and confirmation of structure

PubMed Central

Guo, Fujiang; An, Tianying; Rein, Kathleen S.

2010-01-01

Four metabolites were identified upon incubation of brevetoxin (PbTx-2) with human liver microsomes. Chemical transformation of PbTx-2 confirmed the structures of three known metabolites BTX-B5, PbTx-9 and 41, 43-dihydro-BTX-B5 and a previously unknown metabolite, 41, 43-dihydro-PbTx-2. These metabolites were also observed upon incubation of PbTx-2 with nine human recombinant cytochrome P450s (1A1, 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4 and 3A5). Cytochrome P450 3A4 produced oxidized metabolites while other CYPs generated the reduced products. PMID:20600229

Model-based reconfiguration: Diagnosis and recovery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crow, Judy; Rushby, John

1994-01-01

We extend Reiter's general theory of model-based diagnosis to a theory of fault detection, identification, and reconfiguration (FDIR). The generality of Reiter's theory readily supports an extension in which the problem of reconfiguration is viewed as a close analog of the problem of diagnosis. Using a reconfiguration predicate 'rcfg' analogous to the abnormality predicate 'ab,' we derive a strategy for reconfiguration by transforming the corresponding strategy for diagnosis. There are two obvious benefits of this approach: algorithms for diagnosis can be exploited as algorithms for reconfiguration and we have a theoretical framework for an integrated approach to FDIR. As a first step toward realizing these benefits we show that a class of diagnosis engines can be used for reconfiguration and we discuss algorithms for integrated FDIR. We argue that integrating recovery and diagnosis is an essential next step if this technology is to be useful for practical applications.

Integrated multiple-model adaptive fault identification and reconfigurable fault-tolerant control for Lead-Wing close formation systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chun; Jiang, Bin; Zhang, Ke

2018-03-01

This paper investigates the attitude and position tracking control problem for Lead-Wing close formation systems in the presence of loss of effectiveness and lock-in-place or hardover failure. In close formation flight, Wing unmanned aerial vehicle movements are influenced by vortex effects of the neighbouring Lead unmanned aerial vehicle. This situation allows modelling of aerodynamic coupling vortex-effects and linearisation based on optimal close formation geometry. Linearised Lead-Wing close formation model is transformed into nominal robust H-infinity models with respect to Mach hold, Heading hold, and Altitude hold autopilots; static feedback H-infinity controller is designed to guarantee effective tracking of attitude and position while manoeuvring Lead unmanned aerial vehicle. Based on H-infinity control design, an integrated multiple-model adaptive fault identification and reconfigurable fault-tolerant control scheme is developed to guarantee asymptotic stability of close-loop systems, error signal boundedness, and attitude and position tracking properties. Simulation results for Lead-Wing close formation systems validate the efficiency of the proposed integrated multiple-model adaptive control algorithm.

76 FR 20363 - Accreditation and Approval of Camin Cargo Control, Inc., as a Commercial Gauger and Laboratory

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-12

... CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13, Camin Cargo Control, Inc., 1550 Industrial Park Drive, Nederland, TX... purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13. Anyone wishing to employ...

Detail view of a starboard Orbiter Maneuvering and Reaction Control ...

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

Detail view of a starboard Orbiter Maneuvering and Reaction Control Systems pod, removed from the orbiter and in it's carrier/transport vehicle at Kennedy Space Center. - Space Transportation System, Orbiter Discovery (OV-103), Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX

Intra coronary freshly isolated bone marrow cells transplantation improve cardiac function in patients with ischemic heart disease

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Autologous bone marrow cell transplantation (BMCs-Tx) is a promising novel option for treatment of cardiovascular disease. In this study we analyzed whether intracoronary autologous freshly isolated BMCs-Tx have beneficial effects on cardiac function in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Results In this prospective nonrandomized study we treated 12 patients with IHD by freshly isolated BMCs-Tx by use of point of care system and compared them with a representative 12 control group without cell therapy. Global ejection fraction (EF) and infarct size area were determined by left ventriculography. Intracoronary transplantation of autologous freshly isolated BMCs led to a significant reduction of infarct size (p < 0.001) and an increase of global EF (p = 0.003) as well as infarct wall movement velocity (p < 0.001) after 6 months follow-up compared to control group. In control group there were no significant differences of global EF, infarct size and infarct wall movement velocity between baseline and 6 months after coronary angiography. Furthermore, we found significant decrease in New York Heart Association (NYHA) as well as significant decrease of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level 6 months after intracoronary cell therapy (p < 0.001), whereas there were no significant differences in control group 6 months after coronary angiography. Conclusions These results demonstrate that intracoronary transplantation of autologous freshly isolated BMCs by use of point of care system is safe and may lead to improvement of cardiac function in patients with IHD. Trial registration Registration number: ISRCTN54510226 PMID:22534049

High-resolution whole-brain diffusion MRI at 7T using radiofrequency parallel transmission.

PubMed

Wu, Xiaoping; Auerbach, Edward J; Vu, An T; Moeller, Steen; Lenglet, Christophe; Schmitter, Sebastian; Van de Moortele, Pierre-François; Yacoub, Essa; Uğurbil, Kâmil

2018-03-30

Investigating the utility of RF parallel transmission (pTx) for Human Connectome Project (HCP)-style whole-brain diffusion MRI (dMRI) data at 7 Tesla (7T). Healthy subjects were scanned in pTx and single-transmit (1Tx) modes. Multiband (MB), single-spoke pTx pulses were designed to image sagittal slices. HCP-style dMRI data (i.e., 1.05-mm resolutions, MB2, b-values = 1000/2000 s/mm 2 , 286 images and 40-min scan) and data with higher accelerations (MB3 and MB4) were acquired with pTx. pTx significantly improved flip-angle detected signal uniformity across the brain, yielding ∼19% increase in temporal SNR (tSNR) averaged over the brain relative to 1Tx. This allowed significantly enhanced estimation of multiple fiber orientations (with ∼21% decrease in dispersion) in HCP-style 7T dMRI datasets. Additionally, pTx pulses achieved substantially lower power deposition, permitting higher accelerations, enabling collection of the same data in 2/3 and 1/2 the scan time or of more data in the same scan time. pTx provides a solution to two major limitations for slice-accelerated high-resolution whole-brain dMRI at 7T; it improves flip-angle uniformity, and enables higher slice acceleration relative to current state-of-the-art. As such, pTx provides significant advantages for rapid acquisition of high-quality, high-resolution truly whole-brain dMRI data. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Graphene-ferroelectric metadevices for nonvolatile memory and reconfigurable logic-gate operations.

PubMed

Kim, Woo Young; Kim, Hyeon-Don; Kim, Teun-Teun; Park, Hyun-Sung; Lee, Kanghee; Choi, Hyun Joo; Lee, Seung Hoon; Son, Jaehyeon; Park, Namkyoo; Min, Bumki

2016-01-27

Memory metamaterials are artificial media that sustain transformed electromagnetic properties without persistent external stimuli. Previous memory metamaterials were realized with phase-change materials, such as vanadium dioxide or chalcogenide glasses, which exhibit memory behaviour with respect to electrically/optically induced thermal stimuli. However, they require a thermally isolated environment for longer retention or strong optical pump for phase-change. Here we demonstrate electrically programmable nonvolatile memory metadevices realised by the hybridization of graphene, a ferroelectric and meta-atoms/meta-molecules, and extend the concept further to establish reconfigurable logic-gate metadevices. For a memory metadevice having a single electrical input, amplitude, phase and even the polarization multi-states were clearly distinguishable with a retention time of over 10 years at room temperature. Furthermore, logic-gate functionalities were demonstrated with reconfigurable logic-gate metadevices having two electrical inputs, with each connected to separate ferroelectric layers that act as the multi-level controller for the doping level of the sandwiched graphene layer.

Transformational electronics are now reconfiguring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rojas, Jhonathan P.; Hussain, Aftab M.; Arevalo, A.; Foulds, I. G.; Torres Sevilla, Galo A.; Nassar, Joanna M.; Hussain, Muhammad M.

2015-05-01

Current developments on enhancing our smart living experience are leveraging the increased interest for novel systems that can be compatible with foldable, wrinkled, wavy and complex geometries and surfaces, and thus become truly ubiquitous and easy to deploy. Therefore, relying on innovative structural designs we have been able to reconfigure the physical form of various materials, to achieve remarkable mechanical flexibility and stretchability, which provides us with the perfect platform to develop enhanced electronic systems for application in entertainment, healthcare, fitness and wellness, military and manufacturing industry. Based on these novel structural designs we have developed a siliconbased network of hexagonal islands connected through double-spiral springs, forming an ultra-stretchable (~1000%) array for full compliance to highly asymmetric shapes and surfaces, as well as a serpentine design used to show an ultrastretchable (~800%) and flexible, spatially reconfigurable, mobile, metallic thin film copper (Cu)-based, body-integrated and non-invasive thermal heater with wireless controlling capability, reusability, heating-adaptability and affordability due to low-cost complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible integration.

Charge Neutralization Drives the Shape Reconfiguration of DNA Nanotubes.

PubMed

Liu, Pi; Zhao, Yan; Liu, Xiaoguo; Sun, Jixue; Xu, Dede; Li, Yang; Li, Qian; Wang, Lihua; Yang, Sichun; Fan, Chunhai; Lin, Jianping

2018-05-04

Reconfiguration of membrane protein channels for gated transport is highly regulated under physiological conditions. However, a mechanistic understanding of such channels remains challenging owing to the difficulty in probing subtle gating-associated structural changes. Herein, we show that charge neutralization can drive the shape reconfiguration of a biomimetic 6-helix bundle DNA nanotube (6HB). Specifically, 6HB adopts a compact state when its charge is neutralized by Mg 2+ ; whereas Na + switches it to the expanded state, as revealed by MD simulations, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and FRET characterization. Furthermore, partial neutralization of the DNA backbone charges by chemical modification renders 6HB compact and insensitive to ions, suggesting an interplay between electrostatic and hydrophobic forces in the channels. This system provides a platform for understanding the structure-function relationship of biological channels and designing rules for the shape control of DNA nanostructures in biomedical applications. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Acoustically trapped colloidal crystals that are reconfigurable in real time

PubMed Central

Caleap, Mihai; Drinkwater, Bruce W.

2014-01-01

Photonic and phononic crystals are metamaterials with repeating unit cells that result in internal resonances leading to a range of wave guiding and filtering properties and are opening up new applications such as hyperlenses and superabsorbers. Here we show the first, to our knowledge, 3D colloidal phononic crystal that is reconfigurable in real time and demonstrate its ability to rapidly alter its frequency filtering characteristics. Our reconfigurable material is assembled from microspheres in aqueous solution, trapped with acoustic radiation forces. The acoustic radiation force is governed by an energy landscape, determined by an applied high-amplitude acoustic standing wave field, in which particles move swiftly to energy minima. This creates a colloidal crystal of several milliliters in volume with spheres arranged in an orthorhombic lattice in which the acoustic wavelength is used to control the lattice spacing. Transmission acoustic spectroscopy shows that the new colloidal crystal behaves as a phononic metamaterial and exhibits clear band-pass and band-stop frequencies which are adjusted in real time. PMID:24706925

A Plug and Play GNC Architecture Using FPGA Components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

KrishnaKumar, K.; Kaneshige, J.; Waterman, R.; Pires, C.; Ippoloito, C.

2005-01-01

The goal of Plug and Play, or PnP, is to allow hardware and software components to work together automatically, without requiring manual setup procedures. As a result, new or replacement hardware can be plugged into a system and automatically configured with the appropriate resource assignments. However, in many cases it may not be practical or even feasible to physically replace hardware components. One method for handling these types of situations is through the incorporation of reconfigurable hardware such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays, or FPGAs. This paper describes a phased approach to developing a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) architecture that expands on the traditional concepts of PnP, in order to accommodate hardware reconfiguration without requiring detailed knowledge of the hardware. This is achieved by establishing a functional based interface that defines how the hardware will operate, and allow the hardware to reconfigure itself. The resulting system combines the flexibility of manipulating software components with the speed and efficiency of hardware.

Reconfigurable radio-frequency arbitrary waveforms synthesized in a silicon photonic chip.

PubMed

Wang, Jian; Shen, Hao; Fan, Li; Wu, Rui; Niu, Ben; Varghese, Leo T; Xuan, Yi; Leaird, Daniel E; Wang, Xi; Gan, Fuwan; Weiner, Andrew M; Qi, Minghao

2015-01-12

Photonic methods of radio-frequency waveform generation and processing can provide performance advantages and flexibility over electronic methods due to the ultrawide bandwidth offered by the optical carriers. However, bulk optics implementations suffer from the lack of integration and slow reconfiguration speed. Here we propose an architecture of integrated photonic radio-frequency generation and processing and implement it on a silicon chip fabricated in a semiconductor manufacturing foundry. Our device can generate programmable radio-frequency bursts or continuous waveforms with only the light source, electrical drives/controls and detectors being off-chip. It modulates an individual pulse in a radio-frequency burst within 4 ns, achieving a reconfiguration speed three orders of magnitude faster than thermal tuning. The on-chip optical delay elements offer an integrated approach to accurately manipulating individual radio-frequency waveform features without constraints set by the speed and timing jitter of electronics, and should find applications ranging from high-speed wireless to defence electronics.

Graphene-ferroelectric metadevices for nonvolatile memory and reconfigurable logic-gate operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Woo Young; Kim, Hyeon-Don; Kim, Teun-Teun; Park, Hyun-Sung; Lee, Kanghee; Choi, Hyun Joo; Lee, Seung Hoon; Son, Jaehyeon; Park, Namkyoo; Min, Bumki

2016-01-01

Memory metamaterials are artificial media that sustain transformed electromagnetic properties without persistent external stimuli. Previous memory metamaterials were realized with phase-change materials, such as vanadium dioxide or chalcogenide glasses, which exhibit memory behaviour with respect to electrically/optically induced thermal stimuli. However, they require a thermally isolated environment for longer retention or strong optical pump for phase-change. Here we demonstrate electrically programmable nonvolatile memory metadevices realised by the hybridization of graphene, a ferroelectric and meta-atoms/meta-molecules, and extend the concept further to establish reconfigurable logic-gate metadevices. For a memory metadevice having a single electrical input, amplitude, phase and even the polarization multi-states were clearly distinguishable with a retention time of over 10 years at room temperature. Furthermore, logic-gate functionalities were demonstrated with reconfigurable logic-gate metadevices having two electrical inputs, with each connected to separate ferroelectric layers that act as the multi-level controller for the doping level of the sandwiched graphene layer.

Colt: an experiment in wormhole run-time reconfiguration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bittner, Ray; Athanas, Peter M.; Musgrove, Mark

1996-10-01

Wormhole run-time reconfiguration (RTR) is an attempt to create a refined computing paradigm for high performance computational tasks. By combining concepts from field programmable gate array (FPGA) technologies with data flow computing, the Colt/Stallion architecture achieves high utilization of hardware resources, and facilitates rapid run-time reconfiguration. Targeted mainly at DSP-type operations, the Colt integrated circuit -- a prototype wormhole RTR device -- compares favorably to contemporary DSP alternatives in terms of silicon area consumed per unit computation and in computing performance. Although emphasis has been placed on signal processing applications, general purpose computation has not been overlooked. Colt is a prototype that defines an architecture not only at the chip level but also in terms of an overall system design. As this system is realized, the concept of wormhole RTR will be applied to numerical computation and DSP applications including those common to image processing, communications systems, digital filters, acoustic processing, real-time control systems and simulation acceleration.

Reconfigurable radio-frequency arbitrary waveforms synthesized in a silicon photonic chip

PubMed Central

Wang, Jian; Shen, Hao; Fan, Li; Wu, Rui; Niu, Ben; Varghese, Leo T.; Xuan, Yi; Leaird, Daniel E.; Wang, Xi; Gan, Fuwan; Weiner, Andrew M.; Qi, Minghao

2015-01-01

Photonic methods of radio-frequency waveform generation and processing can provide performance advantages and flexibility over electronic methods due to the ultrawide bandwidth offered by the optical carriers. However, bulk optics implementations suffer from the lack of integration and slow reconfiguration speed. Here we propose an architecture of integrated photonic radio-frequency generation and processing and implement it on a silicon chip fabricated in a semiconductor manufacturing foundry. Our device can generate programmable radio-frequency bursts or continuous waveforms with only the light source, electrical drives/controls and detectors being off-chip. It modulates an individual pulse in a radio-frequency burst within 4 ns, achieving a reconfiguration speed three orders of magnitude faster than thermal tuning. The on-chip optical delay elements offer an integrated approach to accurately manipulating individual radio-frequency waveform features without constraints set by the speed and timing jitter of electronics, and should find applications ranging from high-speed wireless to defence electronics. PMID:25581847

Lack of significant improvements in long-term allograft survival in pediatric solid organ transplantation: A US national registry analysis.

PubMed

Dharnidharka, Vikas R; Lamb, Kenneth E; Zheng, Jie; Schechtman, Kenneth B; Meier-Kriesche, Herwig-Ulf

2015-08-01

Improvements across many facets of transplantation have led to better 1-yr outcomes of transplanted organs. In this study, we assessed whether longer-term attrition rates improved in pediatric kidney (KI), liver (LI), heart (HR) and lung (LU) transplant (TX) survival. We analyzed data between 1989 and 2008 from 5747 KI, 7348 LI, 5103 HR, and 715 LU TXs (under 18 yr of age at transplant, first solitary transplant only), from the National Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database in the USA. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) or ordinary least square (OLS) estimates were used to calculate median and projected survival half-lives. Attrition rates, defined as percent failing within a given time period, were stratified by year of TX. Median half-lives from 1989 TX year to 2005 TX year have shown a major improvement only in LI TX, remaining unchanged in HR and KI TX, or remaining very low in LU TX. All four organ TX types have shown a dramatic drop in first-year attrition rates from 1989 to 2008. However, longer-term attrition rates (1-3, 3-5, 5-10 yr) have remained largely unchanged for all four organ TX types. Further progress in long-term survival will need targeting end-points beyond first-year rejection and survival rates. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Enhancement of antitumor activity of OK-432 (picibanil) by Triton X-114 phase partitioning.

PubMed

Hashimoto, Masahito; Takashige, Katsuhiro; Furuyashiki, Maiko; Yoshidome, Keitaro; Sano, Ryoko; Kawamura, Yutaka; Ijichi, Shinji; Morioka, Hirofumi; Koide, Hiroyuki; Oku, Naoto; Moriya, Yoichiro; Kusumoto, Shoich; Suda, Yasuo

2008-01-01

OK-432 (Picibanil), a Streptococcal immunotherapeutic agent, has been used for immunotherapy of various cancers as a biological response modifier (BRM). However, OK-432 contains multiple components consisting of immunotherapeutic ones and contaminants which may weaken the effects or exert side-effects. In this study, we investigated extraction of contaminants from OK-432 using Triton X-114 (TX-114)-water phase partitioning and examined an antitumor effect of the resulting preparation. OK-432 was subjected to TX-114 partitioning to give residual precipitate designated as OK-TX-ppt. OK-TX-ppt exerted no TLR2-mediated activity, but induced interleukin (IL)-6 in human PBMC. OK-TX-ppt also induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-10, IL-12, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in PBMC. Moreover, IFN-gamma-inducing activity of OK-TX-ppt was significantly higher and IL-10 production was lower than that of OK-432. In tumor-bearing mice model, administration of OK-TX-ppt i.p. extended the survival time of Meth-A-bearing mice compared to OK-432. OK-TX-ppt also increased the levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in mouse spleen cells in vitro. These results indicated that TX-114 partitioning removed some contaminants, which attenuates the antitumor effect, from OK-432 and increase the immunotherapeutic effects of OK-432.

A Venom-derived Neurotoxin, CsTx-1, from the Spider Cupiennius salei Exhibits Cytolytic Activities*

PubMed Central

Kuhn-Nentwig, Lucia; Fedorova, Irina M.; Lüscher, Benjamin P.; Kopp, Lukas S.; Trachsel, Christian; Schaller, Johann; Vu, Xuan Lan; Seebeck, Thomas; Streitberger, Kathrin; Nentwig, Wolfgang; Sigel, Erwin; Magazanik, Lev G.

2012-01-01

CsTx-1, the main neurotoxic acting peptide in the venom of the spider Cupiennius salei, is composed of 74 amino acid residues, exhibits an inhibitory cysteine knot motif, and is further characterized by its highly cationic charged C terminus. Venom gland cDNA library analysis predicted a prepropeptide structure for CsTx-1 precursor. In the presence of trifluoroethanol, CsTx-1 and the long C-terminal part alone (CT1-long; Gly-45–Lys-74) exhibit an α-helical structure, as determined by CD measurements. CsTx-1 and CT1-long are insecticidal toward Drosophila flies and destroys Escherichia coli SBS 363 cells. CsTx-1 causes a stable and irreversible depolarization of insect larvae muscle cells and frog neuromuscular preparations, which seem to be receptor-independent. Furthermore, this membranolytic activity could be measured for Xenopus oocytes, in which CsTx-1 and CT1-long increase ion permeability non-specifically. These results support our assumption that the membranolytic activities of CsTx-1 are caused by its C-terminal tail, CT1-long. Together, CsTx-1 exhibits two different functions; as a neurotoxin it inhibits L-type Ca2+ channels, and as a membranolytic peptide it destroys a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell membranes. Such a dualism is discussed as an important new mechanism for the evolution of spider venomous peptides. PMID:22613721

Classical and modern control strategies for the deployment, reconfiguration, and station-keeping of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Benchmark Tetrahedron Constellation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capo-Lugo, Pedro A.

Formation flying consists of multiple spacecraft orbiting in a required configuration about a planet or through Space. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Benchmark Tetrahedron Constellation is one of the proposed constellations to be launched in the year 2009 and provides the motivation for this investigation. The problem that will be researched here consists of three stages. The first stage contains the deployment of the satellites; the second stage is the reconfiguration process to transfer the satellites through different specific sizes of the NASA benchmark problem; and, the third stage is the station-keeping procedure for the tetrahedron constellation. Every stage contains different control schemes and transfer procedures to obtain/maintain the proposed tetrahedron constellation. In the first stage, the deployment procedure will depend on a combination of two techniques in which impulsive maneuvers and a digital controller are used to deploy the satellites and to maintain the tetrahedron constellation at the following apogee point. The second stage that corresponds to the reconfiguration procedure shows a different control scheme in which the intelligent control systems are implemented to perform this procedure. In this research work, intelligent systems will eliminate the use of complex mathematical models and will reduce the computational time to perform different maneuvers. Finally, the station-keeping process, which is the third stage of this research problem, will be implemented with a two-level hierarchical control scheme to maintain the separation distance constraints of the NASA Benchmark Tetrahedron Constellation. For this station-keeping procedure, the system of equations defining the dynamics of a pair of satellites is transformed to take in account the perturbation due to the oblateness of the Earth and the disturbances due to solar pressure. The control procedures used in this research will be transformed from a continuous control system to a digital control system which will simplify the implementation into the computer onboard the satellite. In addition, this research will show an introductory chapter on attitude dynamics that can be used to maintain the orientation of the satellites, and an adaptive intelligent control scheme will be proposed to maintain the desired orientation of the spacecraft. In conclusion, a solution for the dynamics of the NASA Benchmark Tetrahedron Constellation will be presented in this research work. The main contribution of this work is the use of discrete control schemes, impulsive maneuvers, and intelligent control schemes that can be used to reduce the computational time in which these control schemes can be easily implemented in the computer onboard the satellite. These contributions are explained through the deployment, reconfiguration, and station-keeping process of the proposed NASA Benchmark Tetrahedron Constellation.

77 FR 1015 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-09

... navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed..., VOR RWY 26L, Amdt 32 Houston, TX, Sugar Land Rgnl, ILS OR LOC RWY 35, Amdt 4 Houston, TX, Sugar Land Rgnl, RNAV (GPS) RWY 35, Amdt 2 Houston, TX, Sugar Land Rgnl, VOR/DME-A, Amdt 2 Marshall, TX, Harrison...

Registration of 'TAM 113' wheat

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

‘TAM 113’ (Reg. No. CV-1081, PI 666125), a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar with experimental designation TX02A0252, was developed and released by Texas AgriLife Research in 2010. TAM 113 is an F5–derived line from the cross TX90V6313/TX94V3724 made at Vernon, TX in 1995. Both T...

78 FR 33015 - Proposed Amendment of Class D Airspace; Waco, TX, and Establishment of Class D Airspace; Waco...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-03

...-0136; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-4] Proposed Amendment of Class D Airspace; Waco, TX, and Establishment of Class D Airspace; Waco, TSTC-Waco Airport, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT... Waco, TX, by separating the Class D airspace at Waco Regional Airport from the Class D airspace at TSTC...

78 FR 48290 - Amendment of Class D Airspace; Waco, TX, and Establishment of Class D Airspace; Waco, TSTC-Waco...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-08

...-0136; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-4] Amendment of Class D Airspace; Waco, TX, and Establishment of Class D Airspace; Waco, TSTC-Waco Airport, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class D airspace at Waco, TX, by separating the Class D airspace...

Registration of sorghum germplasm Tx3408 and Tx3409 with tolerance to sugarcane aphid [Melanaphis saccari (Zehntner)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) germplasm lines Tx3408 and Tx3409 were developed and released from Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the USDA-ARS in 2015. Both of these lines were developed from intentional crosses using the pedigree method of plant breeding. The breeding crosses for these l...

77 FR 47816 - Foreign-Trade Zone 12-McAllen, TX Application for Subzone TST NA TRIM, LLC Hidalgo, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-10

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [S-90-2012] Foreign-Trade Zone 12--McAllen, TX Application for Subzone TST NA TRIM, LLC Hidalgo, TX An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade...-purpose subzone status for the facility of TST NA TRIM, LLC, located in Hidalgo, Texas. The application...

Influence of compositions on thermal stability and thermodynamic parameter in Ca-Mg-Cu bulk metallic glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deshmukh, A. A.; Khond, A. A.; Palikundwar, U. A.

2018-05-01

In the present manuscript, influence of compositions on thermal stability (ΔTx) and thermodynamic parameter PHSS of Ca-Mg-Cu bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) is evaluated. The statistical approach of regression analysis is adopted to investigate the compositional variation with ΔTx and PHSS. It is found that calcium (Ca) and copper (Cu) content has goodlinear relationship with ΔTx and PHSS. It is observed that with increase in Ca content, ΔTx and PHSS decreases. On the other hand, increase in Cu content, both ΔTx and PHSS increases. Correlation fit of magnesium (Mg) content with both ΔTx and PHSS is very poor. A graph is also plotted to understand the relationship between ΔTx and PHSS. Result of the relationship between ΔTx and PHSS reveals that the alloy composition having more negative value of PHSS will have more stability. Therefore, compositions with more negative value of PHSS will lead to ease of BMGs formation in Ca-Mg-Cu alloy system and hence more stable it will be. It is expected that these results will be supportive in identifying the compositions having these elements for making BMGs.

Two-craft Coulomb formation study about circular orbits and libration points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inampudi, Ravi Kishore

This dissertation investigates the dynamics and control of a two-craft Coulomb formation in circular orbits and at libration points; it addresses relative equilibria, stability and optimal reconfigurations of such formations. The relative equilibria of a two-craft tether formation connected by line-of-sight elastic forces moving in circular orbits and at libration points are investigated. In circular Earth orbits and Earth-Moon libration points, the radial, along-track, and orbit normal great circle equilibria conditions are found. An example of modeling the tether force using Coulomb force is discussed. Furthermore, the non-great-circle equilibria conditions for a two-spacecraft tether structure in circular Earth orbit and at collinear libration points are developed. Then the linearized dynamics and stability analysis of a 2-craft Coulomb formation at Earth-Moon libration points are studied. For orbit-radial equilibrium, Coulomb forces control the relative distance between the two satellites. The gravity gradient torques on the formation due to the two planets help stabilize the formation. Similar analysis is performed for along-track and orbit-normal relative equilibrium configurations. Where necessary, the craft use a hybrid thrusting-electrostatic actuation system. The two-craft dynamics at the libration points provide a general framework with circular Earth orbit dynamics forming a special case. In the presence of differential solar drag perturbations, a Lyapunov feedback controller is designed to stabilize a radial equilibrium, two-craft Coulomb formation at collinear libration points. The second part of the thesis investigates optimal reconfigurations of two-craft Coulomb formations in circular Earth orbits by applying nonlinear optimal control techniques. The objective of these reconfigurations is to maneuver the two-craft formation between two charged equilibria configurations. The reconfiguration of spacecraft is posed as an optimization problem using the calculus of variations approach. The optimality criteria are minimum time, minimum acceleration of the separation distance, minimum Coulomb and electric propulsion fuel usage, and minimum electrical power consumption. The continuous time problem is discretized using a pseudospectral method, and the resulting finite dimensional problem is solved using a sequential quadratic programming algorithm. The software package, DIDO, implements this approach. This second part illustrates how pseudospectral methods significantly simplify the solution-finding process.

Structural determinants of the hyperalgesic activity of myotoxic Lys49-phospholipase A2.

PubMed

Zambelli, Vanessa Olzon; Chioato, Lucimara; Gutierrez, Vanessa Pacciari; Ward, Richard John; Cury, Yara

2017-01-01

Bothropstoxin-I (BthTx-I) is a Lys49-phospholipase A 2 (Lys49-PLA 2 ) from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu, which despite of the lack of catalytic activity induces myotoxicity, inflammation and pain. The C-terminal region of the Lys49-PLA 2 s is important for these effects; however, the amino acid residues that determine hyperalgesia and edema are unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the structural determinants for the Lys49-PLA 2 -induced nociception and inflammation. Scanning alanine mutagenesis in the active-site and C-terminal regions of BthTx-I has been used to study the structural determinants of toxin activities. The R118A mutant was employed as this substitution decreases PLA 2 myotoxicity. In addition, K115A and K116A mutants - which contribute to decrease cytotoxicity - and the K122A mutant - which decreases both myotoxicity and cytotoxicity - were also used. The H48Q mutant - which does not interfere with membrane damage or myotoxic activity - was used to evaluate if the PLA 2 catalytic site is relevant for the non-catalytic PLA 2 -induced pain and inflammation. Wistar male rats received intraplantar injections with mutant PLA 2 . Subsequently, hyperalgesia and edema were evaluated by the paw pressure test and by a plethysmometer. Native and recombinant BthTx-I were used as controls. Native and recombinant BthTx-I induced hyperalgesia and edema, which peaked at 2 h. The R118A mutant did not induce nociception or edema. The mutations K115A and K116A abolished hyperalgesia without interfering with edema. Finally, the K122A mutant did not induce hyperalgesia and presented a decreased inflammatory response. The results obtained with the BthTx-I mutants suggest, for the first time, that there are distinct residues responsible for the hyperalgesia and edema induced by BthTx-I. In addition, we also showed that cytolytic activity is essential for the hyperalgesic effect but not for edematogenic activity, corroborating previous data showing that edema and hyperalgesia can occur in a non-dependent manner. Understanding the structure-activity relationship in BthTx-I has opened new possibilities to discover the target for PLA 2 -induced pain.

Reconfigurable antenna pattern verification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drexler, Jerome P. (Inventor); Becker, Robert C. (Inventor); Meyers, David W. (Inventor); Muldoon, Kelly P. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

A method of verifying programmable antenna configurations is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a desired antenna configuration from a plurality of antenna configuration patterns, with the selected antenna configuration forming at least one reconfigurable antenna from reconfigurable antenna array elements. The method validates the formation of the selected antenna configuration to determine antenna performance of the at least one reconfigurable antenna.

Contribution of the collagen adhesin Acm to pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecium in experimental endocarditis.

PubMed

Nallapareddy, Sreedhar R; Singh, Kavindra V; Murray, Barbara E

2008-09-01

Enterococcus faecium is a multidrug-resistant opportunist causing difficult-to-treat nosocomial infections, including endocarditis, but there are no reports experimentally demonstrating E. faecium virulence determinants. Our previous studies showed that some clinical E. faecium isolates produce a cell wall-anchored collagen adhesin, Acm, and that an isogenic acm deletion mutant of the endocarditis-derived strain TX0082 lost collagen adherence. In this study, we show with a rat endocarditis model that TX0082 Deltaacm::cat is highly attenuated versus wild-type TX0082, both in established (72 h) vegetations (P < 0.0001) and for valve colonization 1 and 3 hours after infection (P or=50-fold reduction relative to an Acm producer) were found in three of these five nonadherent isolates, including the sequenced strain TX0016, by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, indicating that acm transcription is downregulated in vitro in these isolates. However, examination of TX0016 cells obtained directly from infected rat vegetations by flow cytometry showed that Acm was present on 40% of cells grown during infection. Finally, we demonstrated a significant reduction in E. faecium collagen adherence by affinity-purified anti-Acm antibodies from E. faecium endocarditis patient sera, suggesting that Acm may be a potential immunotarget for strategies to control this emerging pathogen.

Novel electrochemical immunoassay for quantitative monitoring of biotoxin using target-responsive cargo release from mesoporous silica nanocontainers.

PubMed

Zhang, Bing; Liu, Bingqian; Liao, Jiayao; Chen, Guonan; Tang, Dianping

2013-10-01

A novel homogeneous immunoassay protocol was designed for quantitative monitoring of small molecular biotoxin (brevetoxin B, PbTx-2, as a model) by using target-responsive cargo release from polystyrene microsphere-gated mesoporous silica nanocontainer (MSN). Initially, monoclonal mouse anti-PbTx-2 capture antibody was covalently conjugated onto the surface of MSN (mAb-MSN), and the electroactive cargo (methylene blue, MB) was then trapped in the pores of mAb-MSN by using aminated polystyrene microspheres (APSM) based on the electrostatic interaction. Upon addition of target PbTx-2, the positively charged APSM was displaced from the negatively charged mAb-MSN because of the specific antigen-antibody reaction. Thereafter, the molecular gate was opened, and the trapped methylene blue was released from the pores. The released methylene blue could be monitored by using a square wave voltammetry (SWV) in a homemade microelectrochemical detection cell. Under optimal conditions, the SWV peak current increased with the increasing of PbTx-2 concentration in the range from 0.01 to 3.5 ng mL(-1) with a detection limit (LOD) of 6 pg mL(-1) PbTx-2 at the 3Sblank criterion. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation with identical batches were ≤6% and 9.5%, respectively. The specificity and sample matrix interfering effects were acceptable. The analysis in 12 spiked seafood samples showed good accordance between results obtained by the developed immunoassay and a commercialized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Importantly, the target-responsive controlled release system-based electrochemical immunoassay (CRECIA) offers a promising scheme for the development of advanced homogeneous immunoassay without the sample separation and washing procedure.

Troxerutin abrogates mitochondrial oxidative stress and myocardial apoptosis in mice fed calorie-rich diet.

PubMed

Geetha, Rajagopalan; Sathiya Priya, Chandrasekaran; Anuradha, Carani Venkatraman

2017-12-25

Mitochondrial oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of myocardial apoptosis in metabolic syndrome (MS) patients. In this study, we investigated the effect of troxerutin (TX), an antioxidant on mitochondrial oxidative stress and apoptotic markers in heart of mice fed fat and fructose-rich diet. Adult male Mus musculus mice were fed either control diet or high fat, high fructose diet (HFFD) for 60 days to induce MS. Mice from each dietary group were divided into two on the 16th day and were either treated or untreated with TX (150 mg/kg bw, p.o) for the next 45 days. At the end of the study, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, oxidative stress markers, levels of intracellular calcium, cardiolipin content, cytochrome c release and apoptotic markers were examined in the myocardium. HFFD-feeding resulted in diminution of antioxidants and increased ROS production, lipid peroxidation and oxidatively modified adducts of 8-OHG, 4-HNE and 3-NT. Further increase in Ca 2+ levels, low levels of calcium transporters and decrease in cardiolipin content were noted. Changes in the mitochondrial structure were observed by electron microscopy. Furthermore, cytochrome c release, increase in proapoptotic proteins (APAF-1, BAX, caspases-9 and-3) and decrease in antiapoptotic protein (BCL-2) in HFFD-fed mice suggest myocardial apoptosis. These changes were significantly restored by TX supplementation. TX administration effectively attenuated cardiac apoptosis and exerted a protective role by increasing antioxidant potential and by improving mitochondrial function. Thus, TX could be a promising therapeutic candidate for treating cardiac disease in MS patients. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The SMS4 cryptographic system design based on dynamic partial self-reconfiguration technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jianxin; Gao, Xianwei; Li, Xiuying; Sui, Meili

2013-03-01

This paper describes SMS4 algorithm by using dynamic partial self-reconfiguration. The design is implemented on Xilinx VirtexII-Pro XC2VP30 FPGA devices. The partial self-reconfiguration encryption/decryption module data throughput is up to 50Mb/s, key expansion and encryption/decryption modules use 1606 and 1570 slices respectively, and the resource utilization ratio of the key expansion by using partial self-reconfiguration technology is less 32.03% and slices are less 757 than the non-reconfiguration technology. SMS4 implementation gets a good balance between high performance and low complexity in area. The theoretical and practical research of dynamic partial self-reconfiguration has a broad space for development and application prospect.

Size Effects in Nanoscale Structural Phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McElhinny, Kyle Matthew

The creation of nanostructures offers the opportunity to modify and tune properties in ways inaccessible in bulk materials. A key component in this development is the introduction of size effects which reduce the physical size, dimensionality, and increase the contribution of surface effects. The size effects strongly modify the structural dynamics in nanoscale systems and leads to changes in the vibrational, electrical, and optical properties. An increased level of understanding and control of nanoscale structural dynamics will enable more precise control over nanomaterial transport properties. My work has shown that 1D spatial confinement through the creation of semiconducting nanomembranes modifies the phonon population and dispersion. X ray thermal diffuse scattering distributions show an excess in intensity for nanomembranes less than 100 nm in thickness, for phonon modes with wavevectors spanning the entire Brillouin zone. This excess intensity indicates the development of new low energy phonon modes or the softening of elastic constants. Furthermore, an additional anisotropy in the phonon dispersion is observed with a symmetry matching the direction of spatial confinement. This work has also extended x ray thermal diffuse scattering for use in studying nanomaterials. In electro- and photoactive monolayers a structural reconfiguration can be produced by external optical stimuli. I have developed an electro and photoactive molecular monolayers on oxide surfaces. Using x ray reflectivity, I have evaluated the organization and reconfiguration of molecular monolayers deposited by Langmuir Blodgett technique. I have designed and probed the reconfiguration of optically reconfigurable monolayers of azobenzene donor molecules on semiconducting surfaces. These monolayers reconfigure through a cooperative switching process leading to the development of large isomeric domains. This work represents an advancement in the interpretation of x ray reflectivity from molecular monolayers and inhomogeneous surfaces. The growth 2D materials depends on the interactions between the substrate and the 2D material. I have studied the competition between kinetics and surface energetics which lead to a faceted Ge surface during the growth of Graphene nanoribbons. As part of this work, I have developed new methodologies for interpreting x ray reflectivity patterns from surfaces with multiple reflections. A systematic analysis of the temperature dependence of the faceting process indicates that the process is thermodynamically dominated at high temperatures.

78 FR 45190 - Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-26

...: David Libman 404-507-5701. EIS No. 20130220, Draft EIS, NPS, OH, Cuyahoga Valley National Park White.... 20130176, Draft EIS, APHIS, TX, Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program--Tick Control Barrier, Comment Period...

Determinants of Treatment Abandonment in Childhood Cancer: Results from a Global Survey.

PubMed

Friedrich, Paola; Lam, Catherine G; Kaur, Geetinder; Itriago, Elena; Ribeiro, Raul C; Arora, Ramandeep S

2016-01-01

Understanding and addressing treatment abandonment (TxA) is crucial for bridging the pediatric cancer survival gap between high-income (HIC) and low-and middle-income countries (LMC). In childhood cancer, TxA is defined as failure to start or complete curative cancer therapy and known to be a complex phenomenon. With rising interest on causes and consequences of TxA in LMC, this study aimed to establish the lay-of-the-land regarding determinants of TxA globally, perform and promote comparative research, and raise awareness on this subject. Physicians (medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation therapists), nurses, social workers, and psychologists involved in care of children with cancer were approached through an online survey February-May 2012. Queries addressed social, economic, and treatment-related determinants of TxA. Free-text comments were collected. Descriptive and qualitative analyses were performed. Appraisal of overall frequency, burden, and predictors of TxA has been reported separately. 581 responses from 101 countries were obtained (contact rate = 26%, cooperation rate = 70%). Most respondents were physicians (86%), practicing pediatric hematology/oncology (86%) for >10 years (54%). Providers from LMC considered social/economic factors (families' low socioeconomic status, low education, and long travel time), as most influential in increasing risk of TxA. Treatment-related considerations such as preference for complementary and alternative medicine and concerns about treatment adverse effects and toxicity, were perceived to play an important role in both LMC and HIC. Perceived prognosis seemed to mediate the role of other determinants such as diagnosis and treatment phase on TxA risk. For example, high-risk of TxA was most frequently reported when prognosis clearly worsened (i.e. lack of response to therapy, relapse), or conversely when the patient appeared improved (i.e. induction completed, mass removed), as well as before aggressive/mutilating surgery. Provider responses allowed development of an expanded conceptual model of determinants of TxA; one which illustrates established and emerging individual, family, center, and context specific factors to be considered in order to tackle this problem. Emerging factors included vulnerability, family dynamics, perceptions, center capacity, public awareness, and governmental healthcare financing, among others. TxA is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon. With increased recognition of the role of TxA on global pediatric cancer outcomes, factors beyond social/economic status and beliefs have emerged. Our results provide insights regarding the role of established determinants of TxA in different geographical and economic contexts, allow probing of key determinants by deliberating their mechanisms, and allow building an expanded conceptual model of established and emerging determinants TxA.

Nitric oxide-induced vasorelaxation in response to PnTx2-6 toxin from Phoneutria nigriventer spider in rat cavernosal tissue.

PubMed

Nunes, Kenia P; Cordeiro, Marta N; Richardson, Michael; Borges, Marcia N; Diniz, Simone O F; Cardoso, Valbert N; Tostes, Rita; De Lima, Maria Elena; Webb, Robert Clinton; Leite, Romulo

2010-12-01

Priapism is one of several symptoms observed in accidental bites by the spider Phoneutria nigriventer. The venom of this spider is comprised of many toxins, and the majority has been shown to affect excitable ion channels, mainly sodium (Na(+) ) channels. It has been demonstrated that PnTx2-6, a peptide extracted from the venom of P. nigriventer, causes erection in anesthetized rats and mice. We investigated the mechanism by which PnTx2-6 evokes relaxation in rat corpus cavernosum. PnTx2-6 toxin potentiates nitric oxide (NO)-dependent cavernosal relaxation. Rat cavernosal strips were incubated with bretylium (3 × 10(-5) M) and contracted with phenylephrine (PE; 10(-5) M). Relaxation responses were evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) before and after 4 minutes of incubation with PnTx2-6 (10(-8) M). The effect of PnTx2-6 on relaxation induced by EFS was also tested in the presence of atropine (10(-6) M), a muscarinic receptor antagonist, N-type Ca(2+) channel blockers (ω-conotoxin GVIA, 10(-6) M) and sildenafil (3 × 10(-8) M). Technetium99m radiolabeled PnTx2-6 subcutaneous injection was administrated in the penis. Whereas relaxation induced by SNP was not affected by PnTx2-6, EFS-induced relaxation was significantly potentiated by this toxin as well as PnTx2-6 plus SNP. This potentiating effect was further increased by sildenafil, not altered by atropine, however was completely blocked by the N-type Ca(2+) channels. High concentrated levels of radiolabeled PnTx2-6 was specifically found in the cavernosum tissue, suggesting PnTx2-6 is an important toxin responsible for P. nigriventer spider accident-induced priapism. We show that PnTx2-6 slows Na(+) channels inactivation in nitrergic neurons, allowing Ca(2+) influx to facilitate NO/cGMP signalling, which promotes increased NO production. In addition, this relaxation effect is independent of phosphodiesterase enzyme type 5 inhibition. Our data displays PnTx2-6 as possible pharmacological tool to study alternative treatments for erectile dysfunction. © 2010 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

78 FR 21239 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-10

..., RNAV (GPS) RWY 35, Orig Childress, TX, Childress Muni, RNAV (GPS) RWY 36, Amdt 1 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, Dallas/Fort Worth Intl, CONVERGING ILS RWY 13R, Amdt 7 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, Dallas/Fort Worth Intl, CONVERGING ILS RWY 17R, Amdt 9 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, Dallas/Fort Worth Intl, CONVERGING ILS RWY 18L, Amdt 2...

76 FR 9640 - Prevailing Rate Systems: Santa Clara, CA, Tulsa County, OK, and Angelina County, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-22

... System (FWS) wage area and Angelina County, Texas, as an area of application to the Dallas, TX, NAF FWS... County, Texas, as an area of application to the Dallas, TX, NAF FWS wage area. The Federal Prevailing... area listing for the Oklahoma, OK, and Dallas, TX, NAF wage areas to read as follows: Appendix D to...

78 FR 33263 - Proposed Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; San Marcos, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-04

...] San Marcos Municipal Airport, TX (Lat. 29[deg]53'34'' N., long. 97[deg]51'47'' W.) That airspace... [Amended] San Marcos Municipal Airport, TX (Lat. 29[deg]53[min]34[sec] N., long. 97[deg]51'47'' W.) Lockhart Municipal Airport, TX (Lat. 29[deg]51'01'' N., long. 97[deg]40'21'' W.) That airspace extending...

Effect of shallow angles on compressive strength of biaxial and triaxial laminates.

PubMed

Jia, Hongli; Yang, Hyun-Ik

2016-01-01

Biaxial (BX) and triaxial (TX) composite laminates with ±45° angled plies have been widely used in wind turbine blades. As the scale of blades increases, BX and TX laminates with shallow-angled plies (i.e. off-axis ply angle <45°) might be utilized for reducing mass and/or improving performance. The compressive properties of shallow-angled BX and TX laminates are critical considering their locations in a wind turbine blade, and therefore in this study, the uniaxial static compression tests were conducted using BX and TX laminates with angled-plies of ±45°, ±35°, and ±25°, for the purpose of evaluation. On the other hand, Mori-Tanaka mean field homogenization method was employed to predict elastic constants of plies in BX and TX laminates involved in tests; linear regression analyses of experimentally measured ply strengths collected from various sources were then performed to estimate strengths of plies in BX and TX laminates; finally, Tsai-Wu, Hashin, and Puck failure criteria were chosen to predict compressive strengths of BX and TX laminates. Comparison between theoretical predictions and test results were carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of each criterion. The compressive strength of BX laminate decreases as ply angle increases, and the trend was successfully predicted by all three failure criteria. For TX laminates, ±35° angled plies rather than ±45° angled plies led to the lowest laminate compressive strength. Hashin and Puck criteria gave good predictions at certain ply angles for TX laminates, but Tsai-Wu criterion was able to capture the unexpected strength variation of TX laminates with ply angle. It was concluded that the transverse tensile stress in 0° plies of TX laminates, which attains its maximum when the off-axis ply angle is 35°, is the dominant factor in failure determination if using Tsai-Wu criterion. This explains the unexpected strength variation of TX laminates with ply angle, and also indicates that proper selection of ply angle is the key to fully utilizing the advantages of shallow-angled laminates.

The involvement of macrophage-derived tumour necrosis factor and lipoxygenase products on the neutrophil recruitment induced by Clostridium difficile toxin B.

PubMed Central

Souza, M H; Melo-Filho, A A; Rocha, M F; Lyerly, D M; Cunha, F Q; Lima, A A; Ribeiro, R A

1997-01-01

Clostridium difficile (Cd) toxins appear to mediate the inflammatory response in pseudomembranous colitis and/or colitis associated with the use of antibiotics. In contrast to Cd Toxin A (TxA), Cd Toxin B (TxB) has been reported not to promote fluid secretion or morphological damage in rabbits and hamsters and also does not induce neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. However, TxB is about 1000 times more potent than TxA in stimulating the release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by cultured monocytes. In the present study, we investigated the ability of TxB to promote neutrophil migration into peritoneal cavities and subcutaneous air-pouches of rats. We also examined the role of resident peritoneal cells in this process as well as the inflammatory mediators involved. TxB caused a significant and dose-dependent neutrophil influx with a maximal response at 0.1 microgram/cavity after 4 hr. Depleting the peritoneal resident cell population by washing the peritoneal cavity or increasing this population by pretreating the animals with thioglycollate blocked and amplified the TxB-induced neutrophil migration, respectively. Pretreating the animals with MK886 (a lipoxygenase inhibitor), NDGA (a dual cyclo- and lipoxygenase inhibitor) or the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, but not with indomethacin (a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor), or BN52021 (a platelet-activating factor antagonist), inhibited the neutrophil migration evoked by TxB. Pretreatment with dexamethasone or the administration of anti-TNF-alpha serum into the air-pouches also significantly reduced the TxB-induced neutrophil migration. Supernatants from TxB-stimulated macrophages induced neutrophil migration when injected into the rat peritoneal cavity. This effect was attenuated by the addition of either MK886 or dexamethasone to the macrophage monolayer and by preincubating the supernatants with anti-TNF-alpha serum. TxB also stimulated the release of TNF-alpha by macrophages. Overall, these results suggest that TxB induces an intense neutrophil migration which is mediated by macrophage-derived TNF-alpha and lipoxygenase products. PMID:9227329

75 FR 57477 - Accreditation and Approval of Camin Cargo Control, Inc., as a Commercial Gauger and Laboratory

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-21

..., pursuant to 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13, Camin Cargo Control, Inc., 1800 Dabney Drive, Pasadena, TX... purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13. Anyone wishing to employ...

cAMP Response Element-binding Protein (CREB) and Nuclear Factor κB Mediate the Tamoxifen-induced Up-regulation of Glutamate Transporter 1 (GLT-1) in Rat Astrocytes*

PubMed Central

Karki, Pratap; Webb, Anton; Smith, Keisha; Lee, Kyuwon; Son, Deok-Soo; Aschner, Michael; Lee, Eunsook

2013-01-01

Tamoxifen (TX), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, exerts antagonistic effects on breast tissue and is used to treat breast cancer. Recent evidence also suggests that it may act as an agonist in brain tissue. We reported previously that TX enhanced the expression and function of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) in rat astrocytes, an effect that was mediated by TGF-α. To gain further insight into the mechanisms that mediate TX-induced up-regulation of GLT-1 (EAAT2 in humans), we investigated its effect on GLT-1 at the transcriptional level. TX phosphorylated the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and recruited CREB to the GLT-1 promoter consensus site. The effect of TX on astrocytic GLT-1 was attenuated by the inhibition of PKA, the upstream activator of the CREB pathway. In addition, the effect of TX on GLT-1 promoter activity was abolished by the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, TX recruited the NF-κB subunits p65 and p50 to the NF-κB binding domain of the GLT-1 promoter. Mutation of NF-κB (triple, −583/-282/-251) or CRE (-308) sites on the GLT-1 promoter led to significant repression of the promoter activity, but neither mutant completely abolished the TX-induced GLT-1 promoter activity. Mutation of both the NF-κB (-583/-282/-251) and CRE (-308) sites led to a complete abrogation of the effect of TX on GLT-1 promoter activity. Taken together, our findings establish that TX regulates GLT-1 via the CREB and NF-κB pathways. PMID:23955341

Pretransplant soluble CD30 level has limited effect on acute rejection, but affects graft function in living donor kidney transplantation.

PubMed

Kim, Myoung Soo; Kim, Hae Jin; Kim, Soon Il; Ahn, Hyung Joon; Ju, Man Ki; Kim, Hyun Jung; Jeon, Kyung Ock; Kim, Yu Seun

2006-12-27

Serum soluble CD30 (sCD30) levels might be a useful marker of immunologic status in pre transplant (Tx) recipients. We retrospectively correlated preTx sCD30 levels (high versus low) on postTx graft survival, incidence of acute rejection, and graft function using stored preTx serum. Of 254 recipients who underwent kidney Tx, 120 recipients were enrolled under the uniform criteria (living donor, age >25 years, viral hepatitis free, diabetes free). The preTx sCD30 was not significantly associated with differences in graft survival rate during 47.5+/-11.4 months of follow-up (P = 0.5901). High sCD30 (> or =115 U/ml) was associated with a higher incidence of clinically or pathologically defined acute rejection than low sCD30, but the difference was not statistically significant (33.9% vs. 22.4%, P = 0.164). The response rate to antirejection therapy in patients with high sCD30 was inferior to those with low sCD30, but also was not statistically significant (33.3% vs. 7.7%, P = 0.087). However, mean serum creatinine levels in high sCD30 patients at one month, one year, and three years postTx were significantly different from those with low sCD30 (P < 0.05). In multiple regression analysis, acute rejection episodes, donor age, kidney weight/recipient body weight ratio, and preTx sCD30 levels were independent variables affecting the serum creatinine level three years postTx. PreTx sCD30 level has a limited effect on the incidence of acute rejection and response to antirejection treatment, but inversely and independently affects serum creatinine level after living donor kidney transplantation.

Reconfigurable Multiparameter Biosignal Acquisition SoC for Low Power Wearable Platform

PubMed Central

Kim, Jongpal; Ko, Hyoungho

2016-01-01

A low power and low noise reconfigurable analog front-end (AFE) system on a chip (SoC) for biosignal acquisition is presented. The presented AFE can be reconfigured for use in electropotential, bioimpedance, electrochemical, and photoelectrical modes. The advanced healthcare services based on multiparameter physiological biosignals can be easily implemented with these multimodal and highly reconfigurable features of the proposed system. The reconfigurable gain and input referred noise of the core instrumentation amplifier block are 25 dB to 52 dB, and 1 μVRMS, respectively. The power consumption of the analog blocks in one readout channel is less than 52 μW. The reconfigurable capability among various modes of applications including electrocardiogram, blood glucose concentration, respiration, and photoplethysmography are shown experimentally. PMID:27898004

FPGA platform for prototyping and evaluation of neural network automotive applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aranki, N.; Tawel, R.

2002-01-01

In this paper we present an FPGA based reconfigurable computing platform for prototyping and evaluation of advanced neural network based applications for control and diagnostics in an automotive sub-systems.

Highly chirped single-bandpass microwave photonic filter with reconfiguration capabilities.

PubMed

Bolea, Mario; Mora, José; Ortega, Beatriz; Capmany, José

2011-02-28

We propose a novel photonic structure to implement a chirped single-bandpass microwave photonic filter based on the amplitude modulation of a broadband optical signal transmitted by a non-linear dispersive element and an interferometric system prior to balanced photodetection. A full reconfigurability of the filter is achieved since amplitude and phase responses can be independently controlled. We have experimentally demonstrated chirp values up to tens of ns/GHz, which is, as far as we know, one order of magnitude better than others achieved by electrical approaches and furthermore, without restrictions in terms of frequency tuning since a frequency operation range up to 40 GHz has been experimentally demonstrated.

Integration of multi-interface conversion channel using FPGA for modular photonic network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janicki, Tomasz; Pozniak, Krzysztof T.; Romaniuk, Ryszard S.

2010-09-01

The article discusses the integration of different types of interfaces with FPGA circuits using a reconfigurable communication platform. The solution has been implemented in practice in a single node of a distributed measurement system. Construction of communication platform has been presented with its selected hardware modules, described in VHDL and implemented in FPGA circuits. The graphical user interface (GUI) has been described that allows a user to control the operation of the system. In the final part of the article selected practical solutions have been introduced. The whole measurement system resides on multi-gigabit optical network. The optical network construction is highly modular, reconfigurable and scalable.

Reconfigurable and writable magnetic charge crystals

DOEpatents

Wang, Yong-Lei; Xiao, Zhi-Li; Kwok, Wai-Kwong

2017-07-18

Artificial ices enable the study of geometrical frustration by design and through direct observation. It has, however, proven difficult to achieve tailored long-range ordering of their diverse configurations, limiting both fundamental and applied research directions. An artificial spin structure design is described that produces a magnetic charge ice with tunable long-range ordering of eight different configurations. A technique is also developed to precisely manipulate the local magnetic charge states and demonstrate write-read-erase multi-functionality at room temperature. This globally reconfigurable and locally writable magnetic charge ice provides a setting for designing magnetic monopole defects, tailoring magnetics and controlling the properties of other two-dimensional materials.

Reconfigurable radio-over-fiber system based on optical switch and tunable filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiao; Yin, Rui; Ji, Wei; Sun, Kai; Zhang, Shicheng

2017-09-01

As the best candidate for wireless-access networks, radio-over-fiber (RoF) technology can carry a variety of business. It is necessary to provide differentiated services for different users, so the network needs to produce signals with different modulation formats and different frequencies. A reconfigurable RoF system based on a switch and tunable optical filter that can realize modulation format conversion and multiple frequency signal switching functions is designed. It has a good performance in terms of bit error rate and an eye diagram. The design can help to use radio frequency resources efficiently and make dynamic bandwidth resources controllable.

Dynamic non-reciprocal meta-surfaces with arbitrary phase reconfigurability based on photonic transition in meta-atoms

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

Shi, Yu; Fan, Shanhui, E-mail: shanhui@stanford.edu

2016-01-11

We introduce a distinct class of dynamic non-reciprocal meta-surfaces with arbitrary phase-reconfigurability. This meta-surface consists of an array of meta-atoms, each of which is subject to temporal refractive index modulation, which induces photonic transitions between the states of the meta-atom. We show that arbitrary phase profile for the outgoing wave can be achieved by controlling the phase of the modulation at each meta-atom. Moreover, such dynamic meta-surfaces exhibit non-reciprocal response without the need for magneto-optical effects. The use of photonic transition significantly enhances the tunability and the possible functionalities of meta-surfaces.

Cyclooxygenase-2-dependent bronchoconstriction in perfused rat lungs exposed to endotoxin.

PubMed

Uhlig, S; Nüsing, R; von Bethmann, A; Featherstone, R L; Klein, T; Brasch, F; Müller, K M; Ullrich, V; Wendel, A

1996-05-01

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), widely used to study the mechanisms of gram-negative sepsis, increase airway resistance by constriction of terminal bronchioles. The role of the cyclooxygenase (COX) isoenzymes and their prostanoid metabolites in this process was studied. Pulmonary resistance, the release of thromboxane (TX) and the expression of COX-2 mRNA were measured in isolated blood-free perfused rat lungs exposed to LPS. LPS induced the release of TX and caused increased airway resistance after about 30 min. Both TX formation and LPS-induced bronchoconstriction were prevented by treatment with the unspecific COX inhibitor acetyl salicylic acid, the specific COX-2 inhibitor CGP-28238, dexamethasone, actinomycin D, or cycloheximide. LPS-induced bronchoconstriction was also inhibited by the TX receptor antagonist BM-13177. The TX-mimetic compound, U-46619, increased airway resistance predominantly by constricting terminal bronchioles. COX-2-specific mRNA in lung tissue was elevated after LPS exposure, and this increase was attenuated by addition of dexamethasone or of actinomycin D. In contrast to LPS, platelet-activating factor (PAF) induced immediate TX release and bronchoconstriction that was prevented by acetyl salicylic acid, but not by CGP-28238. LPS elicits the following biochemical and functional changes in rat lungs: (i) induction of COX-2; (ii) formation of prostaglandins and TX; (iii) activation of the TX receptor on airway smooth muscle cells; (iv) constriction of terminal bronchioles; and (v) increased airway resistance. In contrast to LPS, the PAF-induced TX release is likely to depend on COX-1.

Alkylation of histidine residues of Bothrops jararacussu venom proteins and isolated phospholipases A2: a biotechnological tool to improve the production of antibodies.

PubMed

Guimarães, C L S; Andrião-Escarso, S H; Moreira-Dill, L S; Carvalho, B M A; Marchi-Salvador, D P; Santos-Filho, N A; Fernandes, C A H; Fontes, M R M; Giglio, J R; Barraviera, B; Zuliani, J P; Fernandes, C F C; Calderón, L A; Stábeli, R G; Albericio, F; da Silva, S L; Soares, A M

2014-01-01

Crude venom of Bothrops jararacussu and isolated phospholipases A2 (PLA2) of this toxin (BthTX-I and BthTX-II) were chemically modified (alkylation) by p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) in order to study antibody production capacity in function of the structure-function relationship of these substances (crude venom and PLA2 native and alkylated). BthTX-II showed enzymatic activity, while BthTX-I did not. Alkylation reduced BthTX-II activity by 50% while this process abolished the catalytic and myotoxic activities of BthTX-I, while reducing its edema-inducing activity by about 50%. Antibody production against the native and alkylated forms of BthTX-I and -II and the cross-reactivity of antibodies to native and alkylated toxins did not show any apparent differences and these observations were reinforced by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) data. Histopathological analysis of mouse gastrocnemius muscle sections after injection of PBS, BthTX-I, BthTX-II, or both myotoxins previously incubated with neutralizing antibody showed inhibition of the toxin-induced myotoxicity. These results reveal that the chemical modification of the phospholipases A2 (PLA2) diminished their toxicity but did not alter their antigenicity. This observation indicates that the modified PLA2 may provide a biotechnological tool to attenuate the toxicity of the crude venom, by improving the production of antibodies and decreasing the local toxic effects of this poisonous substance in animals used to produce antivenom.

Magnetic-field-controlled reconfigurable semiconductor logic.

PubMed

Joo, Sungjung; Kim, Taeyueb; Shin, Sang Hoon; Lim, Ju Young; Hong, Jinki; Song, Jin Dong; Chang, Joonyeon; Lee, Hyun-Woo; Rhie, Kungwon; Han, Suk Hee; Shin, Kyung-Ho; Johnson, Mark

2013-02-07

Logic devices based on magnetism show promise for increasing computational efficiency while decreasing consumed power. They offer zero quiescent power and yet combine novel functions such as programmable logic operation and non-volatile built-in memory. However, practical efforts to adapt a magnetic device to logic suffer from a low signal-to-noise ratio and other performance attributes that are not adequate for logic gates. Rather than exploiting magnetoresistive effects that result from spin-dependent transport of carriers, we have approached the development of a magnetic logic device in a different way: we use the phenomenon of large magnetoresistance found in non-magnetic semiconductors in high electric fields. Here we report a device showing a strong diode characteristic that is highly sensitive to both the sign and the magnitude of an external magnetic field, offering a reversible change between two different characteristic states by the application of a magnetic field. This feature results from magnetic control of carrier generation and recombination in an InSb p-n bilayer channel. Simple circuits combining such elementary devices are fabricated and tested, and Boolean logic functions including AND, OR, NAND and NOR are performed. They are programmed dynamically by external electric or magnetic signals, demonstrating magnetic-field-controlled semiconductor reconfigurable logic at room temperature. This magnetic technology permits a new kind of spintronic device, characterized as a current switch rather than a voltage switch, and provides a simple and compact platform for non-volatile reconfigurable logic devices.

Standard donor lung procurement with normothermic ex vivo lung perfusion: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Slama, Alexis; Schillab, Lukas; Barta, Maximilian; Benedek, Aris; Mitterbauer, Andreas; Hoetzenecker, Konrad; Taghavi, Shahrokh; Lang, Gyoergy; Matilla, Jose; Ankersmit, Hendrik; Hager, Helmut; Roth, Georg; Klepetko, Walter; Aigner, Clemens

2017-07-01

Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) was primarily developed for evaluation of impaired donor lungs. The good clinical results raise the question for its possible impact on lungs meeting standard criteria. Before application of EVLP on such lungs enters routine clinical practice, it must be demonstrated whether EVLP would affect or improve outcome when used in standard donor lungs. We performed a prospective randomized trial to investigate the role of EVLP in standard lung transplantation (Tx). This prospective randomized clinical trial compared patients who underwent Tx with ex vivo evaluated donor lungs with an equivalent patient population without previous EVLP. From October 2013 to May 2015, 193 lung Tx were performed at the Medical University of Vienna. During this period, 80 recipient/donor pairs that met the inclusion criteria were included in this trial, 41 pairs in the control group, and 39 in the EVLP group. In the EVLP group, 4 lungs (10.2%) ultimately did not qualify for Tx and were rejected for lung Tx owing to technical reasons (n = 2) and quality criteria (n = 2). Donor and recipient characteristics were comparable in both groups. Total cold ischemic time in the EVLP group was significantly longer for both implanted lungs (first side, 372 minutes vs 291 minutes, p < 0.001; second side, 437 minutes vs 370 minutes, p = 0.001); median duration of surgery showed no differences (277 minutes vs 275 minutes). Median oxygen partial pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio at 24 hours after Tx was 516 (range, 280-557) in the EVLP group and 491 (range, 352-575) in the control group (p = 0.63). Incidence of primary graft dysfunction >1 was lower in the EVLP group at all time points compared with the control group (24 hours, 5.7% vs 19.5%, p = 0.10), and need for post-operative prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was lower in the EVLP group (5.7% vs 12.2%, p = 0.44). Short-term clinical outcomes did not differ between recipients in the 2 groups. Patients remained intubated (1.6 days vs 1.6 days, p = 0.67), in the intensive care unit (6 days vs 6 days, p = 0.76), and in the hospital (23 days vs 19 days, p = 0.42) for a comparable period of time. The 30-day survival was 97.1% vs 100% (p = 0.46). This study provides evidence that EVLP can safely be used in standard donor lungs. Functional results and perioperative outcome are comparable to those achieved with standard donor lung preservation techniques. As an evaluation tool, EVLP allows clinicians to identify and to possibly exclude lungs with functional impairment. Finally, EVLP can safely extend total preservation time. Copyright © 2017 International Society for the Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Eigenstructure Assignment for Fault Tolerant Flight Control Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sobel, Kenneth; Joshi, Suresh (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

In recent years, fault tolerant flight control systems have gained an increased interest for high performance military aircraft as well as civil aircraft. Fault tolerant control systems can be described as either active or passive. An active fault tolerant control system has to either reconfigure or adapt the controller in response to a failure. One approach is to reconfigure the controller based upon detection and identification of the failure. Another approach is to use direct adaptive control to adjust the controller without explicitly identifying the failure. In contrast, a passive fault tolerant control system uses a fixed controller which achieves acceptable performance for a presumed set of failures. We have obtained a passive fault tolerant flight control law for the F/A-18 aircraft which achieves acceptable handling qualities for a class of control surface failures. The class of failures includes the symmetric failure of any one control surface being stuck at its trim value. A comparison was made of an eigenstructure assignment gain designed for the unfailed aircraft with a fault tolerant multiobjective optimization gain. We have shown that time responses for the unfailed aircraft using the eigenstructure assignment gain and the fault tolerant gain are identical. Furthermore, the fault tolerant gain achieves MIL-F-8785C specifications for all failure conditions.

76 FR 30534 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-26

... Obstacle DP, Orig Houston, TX, William P Hobby, ILS OR LOC RWY 30L, Amdt 6 Houston, TX, William P Hobby, RNAV (GPS) RWY 12R, Amdt 1A Houston, TX, William P Hobby, RNAV (GPS) RWY 30L, Amdt 2 Houston, TX, William P Hobby, VOR/DME RWY 30L, Amdt 18 Moneta, VA, Smith Mountain Lake, RNAV (GPS) RWY 23, Orig...

Design of a modular digital computer system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A Central Control Element (CCE) module which controls the Automatically Reconfigurable Modular System (ARMS) and allows both redundant processing and multi-computing in the same computer with real time mode switching, is discussed. The same hardware is used for either reliability enhancement, speed enhancement, or for a combination of both.

Reconfigurable Diodes Based on Vertical WSe2 Transistors with van der Waals Bonded Contacts.

PubMed

Avsar, Ahmet; Marinov, Kolyo; Marin, Enrique Gonzalez; Iannaccone, Giuseppe; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Fiori, Gianluca; Kis, Andras

2018-05-01

New device concepts can increase the functionality of scaled electronic devices, with reconfigurable diodes allowing the design of more compact logic gates being one of the examples. In recent years, there has been significant interest in creating reconfigurable diodes based on ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenide crystals due to their unique combination of gate-tunable charge carriers, high mobility, and sizeable band gap. Thanks to their large surface areas, these devices are constructed under planar geometry and the device characteristics are controlled by electrostatic gating through rather complex two independent local gates or ionic-liquid gating. In this work, similar reconfigurable diode action is demonstrated in a WSe 2 transistor by only utilizing van der Waals bonded graphene and Co/h-BN contacts. Toward this, first the charge injection efficiencies into WSe 2 by graphene and Co/h-BN contacts are characterized. While Co/h-BN contact results in nearly Schottky-barrier-free charge injection, graphene/WSe 2 interface has an average barrier height of ≈80 meV. By taking the advantage of the electrostatic transparency of graphene and the different work-function values of graphene and Co/h-BN, vertical devices are constructed where different gate-tunable diode actions are demonstrated. This architecture reveals the opportunities for exploring new device concepts. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Software reconfigurable processor technologies: the key to long-life infrastructure for future space missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Srinivasan, J.; Farrington, A.; Gray, A.

2001-01-01

They present an overview of long-life reconfigurable processor technologies and of a specific architecture for implementing a software reconfigurable (software-defined) network processor for space applications.

Accelerating artificial intelligence with reconfigurable computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cieszewski, Radoslaw

Reconfigurable computing is emerging as an important area of research in computer architectures and software systems. Many algorithms can be greatly accelerated by placing the computationally intense portions of an algorithm into reconfigurable hardware. Reconfigurable computing combines many benefits of both software and ASIC implementations. Like software, the mapped circuit is flexible, and can be changed over the lifetime of the system. Similar to an ASIC, reconfigurable systems provide a method to map circuits into hardware. Reconfigurable systems therefore have the potential to achieve far greater performance than software as a result of bypassing the fetch-decode-execute operations of traditional processors, and possibly exploiting a greater level of parallelism. Such a field, where there is many different algorithms which can be accelerated, is an artificial intelligence. This paper presents example hardware implementations of Artificial Neural Networks, Genetic Algorithms and Expert Systems.

An adaptive cryptographic accelerator for network storage security on dynamically reconfigurable platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Li; Liu, Jing-Ning; Feng, Dan; Tong, Wei

2008-12-01

Existing security solutions in network storage environment perform poorly because cryptographic operations (encryption and decryption) implemented in software can dramatically reduce system performance. In this paper we propose a cryptographic hardware accelerator on dynamically reconfigurable platform for the security of high performance network storage system. We employ a dynamic reconfigurable platform based on a FPGA to implement a PowerPCbased embedded system, which executes cryptographic algorithms. To reduce the reconfiguration latency, we apply prefetch scheduling. Moreover, the processing elements could be dynamically configured to support different cryptographic algorithms according to the request received by the accelerator. In the experiment, we have implemented AES (Rijndael) and 3DES cryptographic algorithms in the reconfigurable accelerator. Our proposed reconfigurable cryptographic accelerator could dramatically increase the performance comparing with the traditional software-based network storage systems.

Attitude dynamics and control of a spacecraft using shifting mass distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Young Tae

Spacecraft need specific attitude control methods that depend on the mission type or special tasks. The dynamics and the attitude control of a spacecraft with a shifting mass distribution within the system are examined. The behavior and use of conventional attitude control actuators are widely developed and performing at the present time. However, the advantage of a shifting mass distribution concept can complement spacecraft attitude control, save mass, and extend a satellite's life. This can be adopted in practice by moving mass from one tank to another, similar to what an airplane does to balance weight. Using this shifting mass distribution concept, in conjunction with other attitude control devices, can augment the three-axis attitude control process. Shifting mass involves changing the center-of-mass of the system, and/or changing the moments of inertia of the system, which then ultimately can change the attitude behavior of the system. This dissertation consists of two parts. First, the equations of motion for the shifting mass concept (also known as morphing) are developed. They are tested for their effects on attitude control by showing how shifting the mass changes the spacecraft's attitude behavior. Second, a method for optimal mass redistribution is shown using a combinatorial optimization theory under constraints. It closes with a simple example demonstrating an optimal reconfiguration. The procedure of optimal reconfiguration from one mass distribution to another to accomplish attitude control has been demonstrated for several simple examples. Mass shifting could work as an attitude controller for fine-tuning attitude behavior in small satellites. Various constraints can be applied for different situations, such as no mass shift between two tanks connected by a failed pipe or total amount of shifted mass per pipe being set for the time optimum solution. Euler angle changes influenced by the mass reconfiguration are accomplished while stability conditions are satisfied. In order to increase the accuracy, generally, more than two control systems are installed in a satellite. Combination with another actuator will be examined to fulfill the full attitude control maneuver. Future work can also include more realistic spacecraft design and operational considerations on the behavior of this type of control system.

Automated distress surveys : analysis of network-level data.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-04-01

TxDOT Project 0-6663, Phase 1: Rutting : Applus, Dynatest, Fugro, Pathway and TxDOT : Reference: detailed project level (24 550-ft sections) : Phase 2: Distresses : Dynatest, Fugro, WayLink-OSU and TxDOT : Reference: detailed proj...

TxDOT administration research : tasks completed in FY2009.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-01-01

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Project 0-6581-TI, TxDOT Administration : Research, encompasses multiple tasks that explore and support administrative aspects of : transportation research. : The project term began in October 2008 and has b...

Optimal Location of Marine Forces Reserve Units by Demographics

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

significant portion of its subordinate units between fiscal years (FYs) 2012 and 2017 (see Figure 1). The decisions made during the FSRG most drastically...fiscal year 2017 . Figure 1. Planned 2010 FSRG MARFORRES restructuring, color-coded in terms of unit reorganizations, additions, deletions, and...Bossier City, LA Texarkana , TX a49 North Little Rock, AR a50 Harlingen, TX Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, TX a51 Ellington Field/Houston, TX

Determinants of Treatment Abandonment in Childhood Cancer: Results from a Global Survey

PubMed Central

Lam, Catherine G.; Kaur, Geetinder; Itriago, Elena; Ribeiro, Raul C.; Arora, Ramandeep S.

2016-01-01

Background Understanding and addressing treatment abandonment (TxA) is crucial for bridging the pediatric cancer survival gap between high-income (HIC) and low-and middle-income countries (LMC). In childhood cancer, TxA is defined as failure to start or complete curative cancer therapy and known to be a complex phenomenon. With rising interest on causes and consequences of TxA in LMC, this study aimed to establish the lay-of-the-land regarding determinants of TxA globally, perform and promote comparative research, and raise awareness on this subject. Methods Physicians (medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation therapists), nurses, social workers, and psychologists involved in care of children with cancer were approached through an online survey February-May 2012. Queries addressed social, economic, and treatment-related determinants of TxA. Free-text comments were collected. Descriptive and qualitative analyses were performed. Appraisal of overall frequency, burden, and predictors of TxA has been reported separately. Results 581 responses from 101 countries were obtained (contact rate = 26%, cooperation rate = 70%). Most respondents were physicians (86%), practicing pediatric hematology/oncology (86%) for >10 years (54%). Providers from LMC considered social/economic factors (families’ low socioeconomic status, low education, and long travel time), as most influential in increasing risk of TxA. Treatment-related considerations such as preference for complementary and alternative medicine and concerns about treatment adverse effects and toxicity, were perceived to play an important role in both LMC and HIC. Perceived prognosis seemed to mediate the role of other determinants such as diagnosis and treatment phase on TxA risk. For example, high-risk of TxA was most frequently reported when prognosis clearly worsened (i.e. lack of response to therapy, relapse), or conversely when the patient appeared improved (i.e. induction completed, mass removed), as well as before aggressive/mutilating surgery. Provider responses allowed development of an expanded conceptual model of determinants of TxA; one which illustrates established and emerging individual, family, center, and context specific factors to be considered in order to tackle this problem. Emerging factors included vulnerability, family dynamics, perceptions, center capacity, public awareness, and governmental healthcare financing, among others. Conclusion TxA is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon. With increased recognition of the role of TxA on global pediatric cancer outcomes, factors beyond social/economic status and beliefs have emerged. Our results provide insights regarding the role of established determinants of TxA in different geographical and economic contexts, allow probing of key determinants by deliberating their mechanisms, and allow building an expanded conceptual model of established and emerging determinants TxA. PMID:27736871

Homogeneous and single-side-operational connector mechanism for self-reconfigurable, self-assembly and self-healing systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shen, Wei-Min (Inventor); Kovac, Robert M. (Inventor)

2012-01-01

Designs of single-end-operative reconfigurable genderless connectors that include a base, a plurality of movable jaws that are formed on the base and can engage to the jaws of another connector, and an actuator that is mounted on the base and can engage and move the jaws of the reconfigurable connector to connect the reconfigurable connector with another connector.

Magnitude of Treatment Abandonment in Childhood Cancer.

PubMed

Friedrich, Paola; Lam, Catherine G; Itriago, Elena; Perez, Rafael; Ribeiro, Raul C; Arora, Ramandeep S

2015-01-01

Treatment abandonment (TxA) is recognized as a leading cause of treatment failure for children with cancer in low-and-middle-income countries (LMC). However, its global frequency and burden have remained elusive due to lack of global data. This study aimed to obtain an estimate using survey and population data. Childhood cancer clinicians (medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation therapists), nurses, social workers, and psychologists involved in care of children with cancer were approached through an online survey February-May 2012. Incidence and population data were obtained from public sources. Descriptive, univariable, and multivariable analyses were conducted. 602 responses from 101 countries were obtained from physicians (84%), practicing pediatric hematology/oncology (83%) in general or children's hospitals (79%). Results suggested, 23,854 (15%) of 155,088 children <15 years old newly diagnosed with cancer annually in the countries analyzed, abandon therapy. Importantly, 83% of new childhood cancer cases and 99% of TxA were attributable to LMC. The annual number of cases of TxA expected in LMC worldwide (26,166) was nearly equivalent to the annual number of cancer cases in children <15 years expected in HIC (26,368). Approximately two thirds of LMC had median TxA ≥ 6%, but TxA ≥ 6% was reported in high- (9%), upper-middle- (41%), lower-middle- (80%), and low-income countries (90%, p<0.001). Most LMC centers reporting TxA > 6% were outside the capital. Lower national income category, higher reliance on out-of-pocket payments, and high prevalence of economic hardship at the center were independent contextual predictors for TxA ≥ 6% (p<0.001). Global survival data available for more developed and less developed regions suggests TxA may account for at least a third of the survival gap between HIC and LMC. Results show TxA is prevalent (compromising cancer survival for 1 in 7 children globally), confirm the suspected high burden of TxA in LMC, and illustrate the negative impact of poverty on its occurrence. The present estimates may appear small compared to the global burden of child death from malnutrition and infection (measured in millions). However, absolute numbers suggest the burden of TxA in LMC is nearly equivalent to annually losing all kids diagnosed with cancer in HIC just to TxA, without even considering deaths from disease progression, relapse or toxicity-the main causes of childhood cancer mortality in HIC. Results document the importance of monitoring and addressing TxA as part of childhood cancer outcomes in at-risk settings.

LC-MS/MS Detection of Karlotoxins Reveals New Variants in Strains of the Marine Dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum from the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean).

PubMed

Krock, Bernd; Busch, Julia A; Tillmann, Urban; García-Camacho, Francisco; Sánchez-Mirón, Asterio; Gallardo-Rodríguez, Juan J; López-Rosales, Lorenzo; Andree, Karl B; Fernández-Tejedor, Margarita; Witt, Matthias; Cembella, Allan D; Place, Allen R

2017-12-18

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the detection and quantitation of karlotoxins in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. This novel method was based upon the analysis of purified karlotoxins (KcTx-1, KmTx-2, 44-oxo-KmTx-2, KmTx-5), one amphidinol (AM-18), and unpurified extracts of bulk cultures of the marine dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum strain CCMP2936 from Delaware (Eastern USA), which produces KmTx-1 and KmTx-3. The limit of detection of the SRM method for KmTx-2 was determined as 2.5 ng on-column. Collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra of all putative karlotoxins were recorded to present fragmentation patterns of each compound for their unambiguous identification. Bulk cultures of K. veneficum strain K10 isolated from an embayment of the Ebro Delta, NW Mediterranean, yielded five previously unreported putative karlotoxins with molecular masses 1280, 1298, 1332, 1356, and 1400 Da, and similar fragments to KmTx-5. Analysis of several isolates of K. veneficum from the Ebro Delta revealed small-scale diversity in the karlotoxin spectrum in that one isolate from Fangar Bay produced KmTx-5, whereas the five putative novel karlotoxins were found among several isolates from nearby, but hydrographically distinct Alfacs Bay. Application of this LC-MS/MS method represents an incremental advance in the determination of putative karlotoxins, particularly in the absence of a complete spectrum of purified analytical standards of known specific potency.

LC-MS/MS Detection of Karlotoxins Reveals New Variants in Strains of the Marine Dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum from the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean)

PubMed Central

Krock, Bernd; Busch, Julia A.; García-Camacho, Francisco; Sánchez-Mirón, Asterio; Gallardo-Rodríguez, Juan J.; López-Rosales, Lorenzo; Andree, Karl B.; Fernández-Tejedor, Margarita; Witt, Matthias; Place, Allen R.

2017-01-01

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the detection and quantitation of karlotoxins in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. This novel method was based upon the analysis of purified karlotoxins (KcTx-1, KmTx-2, 44-oxo-KmTx-2, KmTx-5), one amphidinol (AM-18), and unpurified extracts of bulk cultures of the marine dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum strain CCMP2936 from Delaware (Eastern USA), which produces KmTx-1 and KmTx-3. The limit of detection of the SRM method for KmTx-2 was determined as 2.5 ng on-column. Collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra of all putative karlotoxins were recorded to present fragmentation patterns of each compound for their unambiguous identification. Bulk cultures of K. veneficum strain K10 isolated from an embayment of the Ebro Delta, NW Mediterranean, yielded five previously unreported putative karlotoxins with molecular masses 1280, 1298, 1332, 1356, and 1400 Da, and similar fragments to KmTx-5. Analysis of several isolates of K. veneficum from the Ebro Delta revealed small-scale diversity in the karlotoxin spectrum in that one isolate from Fangar Bay produced KmTx-5, whereas the five putative novel karlotoxins were found among several isolates from nearby, but hydrographically distinct Alfacs Bay. Application of this LC-MS/MS method represents an incremental advance in the determination of putative karlotoxins, particularly in the absence of a complete spectrum of purified analytical standards of known specific potency. PMID:29258236

ALI (Autonomous Lunar Investigator): Revolutionary Approach to Exploring the Moon with Addressable Reconfigurable Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, P. E.; Curtis, S. A.; Rilee, M. L.; Floyd, S. R.

2005-01-01

Addressable Reconfigurable Technology (ART) based structures: Mission Concepts based on Addressable Reconfigurable Technology (ART), originally studied for future ANTS (Autonomous Nanotechnology Swarm) Space Architectures, are now being developed as rovers for nearer term use in lunar and planetary surface exploration. The architecture is based on the reconfigurable tetrahedron as a building block. Tetrahedra are combined to form space-filling networks, shaped for the required function. Basic structural components are highly modular, addressable arrays of robust nodes (tetrahedral apices) from which highly reconfigurable struts (tetrahedral edges), acting as supports or tethers, are efficiently reversibly deployed/stowed, transforming and reshaping the structures as required.

Integration and segregation of large-scale brain networks during short-term task automatization

PubMed Central

Mohr, Holger; Wolfensteller, Uta; Betzel, Richard F.; Mišić, Bratislav; Sporns, Olaf; Richiardi, Jonas; Ruge, Hannes

2016-01-01

The human brain is organized into large-scale functional networks that can flexibly reconfigure their connectivity patterns, supporting both rapid adaptive control and long-term learning processes. However, it has remained unclear how short-term network dynamics support the rapid transformation of instructions into fluent behaviour. Comparing fMRI data of a learning sample (N=70) with a control sample (N=67), we find that increasingly efficient task processing during short-term practice is associated with a reorganization of large-scale network interactions. Practice-related efficiency gains are facilitated by enhanced coupling between the cingulo-opercular network and the dorsal attention network. Simultaneously, short-term task automatization is accompanied by decreasing activation of the fronto-parietal network, indicating a release of high-level cognitive control, and a segregation of the default mode network from task-related networks. These findings suggest that short-term task automatization is enabled by the brain's ability to rapidly reconfigure its large-scale network organization involving complementary integration and segregation processes. PMID:27808095

Electromagnetic wave energy flow control with a tunable and reconfigurable coupled plasma split-ring resonator metamaterial: A study of basic conditions and configurations

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

Kourtzanidis, Konstantinos, E-mail: kkourt@utexas.edu; Pederson, Dylan M.; Raja, Laxminarayan L.

2016-05-28

We propose and study numerically a tunable and reconfigurable metamaterial based on coupled split-ring resonators (SRRs) and plasma discharges. The metamaterial couples the magnetic-electric response of the SRR structure with the electric response of a controllable plasma slab discharge that occupies a volume of the metamaterial. Because the electric response of a plasma depends on its constitutive parameters (electron density and collision frequency), the plasma-based metamaterial is tunable and active. Using three-dimensional numerical simulations, we analyze the coupled plasma-SRR metamaterial in terms of transmittance, performing parametric studies on the effects of electron density, collisional frequency, and the position of themore » plasma slab with respect to the SRR array. We find that the resonance frequency can be controlled by the plasma position or the plasma-to-collision frequency ratio, while transmittance is highly dependent on the latter.« less

Defining and Enabling Resiliency of Electric Distribution Systems With Multiple Microgrids

DOE PAGES

Chanda, Sayonsom; Srivastava, Anurag K.

2016-05-02

This paper presents a method for quantifying and enabling the resiliency of a power distribution system (PDS) using analytical hierarchical process and percolation theory. Using this metric, quantitative analysis can be done to analyze the impact of possible control decisions to pro-actively enable the resilient operation of distribution system with multiple microgrids and other resources. Developed resiliency metric can also be used in short term distribution system planning. The benefits of being able to quantify resiliency can help distribution system planning engineers and operators to justify control actions, compare different reconfiguration algorithms, develop proactive control actions to avert power systemmore » outage due to impending catastrophic weather situations or other adverse events. Validation of the proposed method is done using modified CERTS microgrids and a modified industrial distribution system. Furthermore, simulation results show topological and composite metric considering power system characteristics to quantify the resiliency of a distribution system with the proposed methodology, and improvements in resiliency using two-stage reconfiguration algorithm and multiple microgrids.« less

Voluntary control of intracortical oscillations for reconfiguration of network activity

PubMed Central

Corlier, Juliana; Valderrama, Mario; Navarrete, Miguel; Lehongre, Katia; Hasboun, Dominique; Adam, Claude; Belaid, Hayat; Clémenceau, Stéphane; Baulac, Michel; Charpier, Stéphane; Navarro, Vincent; Le Van Quyen, Michel

2016-01-01

Voluntary control of oscillatory activity represents a key target in the self-regulation of brain function. Using a real-time closed-loop paradigm and simultaneous macro- and micro-electrode recordings, we studied the effects of self-induced intracortical oscillatory activity (4–8 Hz) in seven neurosurgical patients. Subjects learned to robustly and specifically induce oscillations in the target frequency, confirmed by increased oscillatory event density. We have found that the session-to-session variability in performance was explained by the functional long-range decoupling of the target area suggesting a training-induced network reorganization. Downstream effects on more local activities included progressive cross-frequency-coupling with gamma oscillations (30–120 Hz), and the dynamic modulation of neuronal firing rates and spike timing, indicating an improved temporal coordination of local circuits. These findings suggest that effects of voluntary control of intracortical oscillations can be exploited to specifically target plasticity processes to reconfigure network activity, with a particular relevance for memory function or skill acquisition. PMID:27808225

FLOOR PLAN Dyess Air Force Base, Atlas F Missle ...

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

FLOOR PLAN - Dyess Air Force Base, Atlas F Missle Site S-8, Launch Control Center (LCC), Approximately 3 miles east of Winters, 500 feet southwest of Highway 17700, northwest of Launch Facility, Winters, Runnels County, TX

Dyess Air Force Base, Atlas F Missle Site S8, Launch ...

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

Dyess Air Force Base, Atlas F Missle Site S-8, Launch Control Center (LCC), Approximately 3 miles east of Winters, 500 feet southwest of Highway 17700, northwest of Launch Facility, Winters, Runnels County, TX

Pressure overload stimulated cardiac hypertrophy leads to a rapid decrease in the mRNA for creatine kinase

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

Boheler, K.; Popovich, B.; Dillmann, W.H.

1987-05-01

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) leads to a decrease in creatine kinase (CK) enzymatic activity. To determine if the mRNA for CK also decreases with CH, they performed the following studies. Cardiac RNA was isolated from rats subjected to either abdominal aortic stenosis (AS) or sham surgery. Through Northern blot analysis, total cardiac RNA was quantitated with a CK specific /sup 32/P-labelled cDNA clone. At 3 and 8 days post-constriction, the mRNA for CK decreases by 54.6 +/- 7% and 65.3 +/- 18% respectively, whereas the heart weight increases by 19% and 37% relative to controls. Further studies indicate that CK mRNAmore » also decreases by 41.8% in hypothyroid rats (Tx) but decreases by a total of 68.1% in Tx rats subjected to 8 days of AS. Pressure overload stimulated CH leads to a rapid decrease in CK mRNA in normal and Tx rats. This CK mRNA decrease may account for the decreased efficiency of contraction seen in CH.« less

Development and in vivo Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Polymer Micelles Targeted to the Melanocortin 1 Receptor

PubMed Central

Barkey, Natalie M.; Preihs, Christian; Cornnell, Heather H.; Martinez, Gary; Carie, Adam; Vagner, Josef; Xu, Liping; Lloyd, Mark C.; Lynch, Vincent M.; Hruby, Victor J.; Sessler, Jonathan L.; Sill, Kevin N.; Gillies, Robert J.; Morse, David L.

2013-01-01

Recent emphasis has focused on the development of rationally-designed polymer-based micelle carriers for drug delivery. The current work tests the hypothesis that target specificity can be enhanced by micelles with cancer-specific ligands. In particular, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a new gadolinium texaphyrin (Gd-Tx) complex encapsulated in an IVECT™ micellar system, stabilized through Fe(III) crosslinking and targeted with multiple copies of a specific ligand for the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), which has been evaluated as a cell-surface marker for melanoma. On the basis of comparative MRI experiments, we have been able to demonstrate that these Gd-Tx micelles are able to target MC1R-expressing xenograft tumors in vitro and in vivo more effectively than various control systems, including untargeted and/or uncrosslinked Gd-Tx micelles. Taken in concert, the findings reported herein support the conclusion that appropriately designed micelles are able to deliver contrast agent payloads to tumors expressing the MC1R. PMID:23863078

Preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of BthTX-II, a myotoxic Asp49-phospholipase A{sub 2} with low catalytic activity from Bothrops jararacussu venom

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

Corrêa, L. C.; Marchi-Salvador, D. P.; Cintra, A. C. O.

2006-08-01

A myotoxic Asp49-PLA{sub 2} with low catalytic activity from B. jararacussu (BthTX-II) was crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system; a complete X-ray diffraction data set was collected and a molecular-replacement solution was obtained. The oligomeric structure of BthTX-II resembles those of the Asp49-PLA{sub 2} PrTX-III and all bothropic Lys49-PLA{sub 2}s. For the first time, a complete X-ray diffraction data set has been collected from a myotoxic Asp49-phospholipase A{sub 2} (Asp49-PLA{sub 2}) with low catalytic activity (BthTX-II from Bothrops jararacussu venom) and a molecular-replacement solution has been obtained with a dimer in the asymmetric unit. The quaternary structure of BthTX-II resemblesmore » the myotoxin Asp49-PLA{sub 2} PrTX-III (piratoxin III from B. pirajai venom) and all non-catalytic and myotoxic dimeric Lys49-PLA{sub 2}s. In contrast, the oligomeric structure of BthTX-II is different from the highly catalytic and non-myotoxic BthA-I (acidic PLA{sub 2} from B. jararacussu). Thus, comparison between these structures should add insight into the catalytic and myotoxic activities of bothropic PLA{sub 2}s.« less

TX-100 manufacturing final project report.

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

Ashwill, Thomas D.; Berry, Derek S.

This report details the work completed under the TX-100 blade manufacturing portion of the Carbon-Hybrid Blade Developments: Standard and Twist-Coupled Prototype project. The TX-100 blade is a 9 meter prototype blade designed with bend-twist coupling to augment the mitigation of peak loads during normal turbine operation. This structural coupling was achieved by locating off axis carbon fiber in the outboard portion of the blade skins. The report will present the tooling selection, blade production, blade instrumentation, blade shipping and adapter plate design and fabrication. The baseline blade used for this project was the ERS-100 (Revision D) wind turbine blade. Themore » molds used for the production of the TX-100 were originally built for the production of the CX-100 blade. The same high pressure and low pressure skin molds were used to manufacture the TX-100 skins. In order to compensate for the difference in skin thickness between the CX-100 and the TX-100, however, a new TX-100 shear web plug and mold were required. Both the blade assembly fixture and the root stud insertion fixture used for the CX-100 blades could be utilized for the TX-100 blades. A production run of seven TX-100 prototype blades was undertaken at TPI Composites during the month of October, 2004. Of those seven blades, four were instrumented with strain gauges before final assembly. After production at the TPI Composites facility in Rhode Island, the blades were shipped to various test sites: two blades to the National Wind Technology Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, two blades to Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico and three blades to the United States Department of Agriculture turbine field test facility in Bushland, Texas. An adapter plate was designed to allow the TX-100 blades to be installed on existing Micon 65/13M turbines at the USDA site. The conclusion of this program is the kick-off of the TX-100 blade testing at the three testing facilities.« less

Risky behaviors: effects of Toxorhynchites splendens (Diptera: Culicidae) predator on the behavior of three mosquito species.

PubMed

Zuharah, Wan Fatma; Fadzly, Nik; Yusof, Nur Aishah; Dieng, Hamady

2015-01-01

Viable biocontrol agents for mosquito control are quite rare, therefore improving the efficacy of existing biological agents is an important study. We need to have a better understanding of the predation-risk behavioral responses toward prey. This research examined prey choices by Toxorhynchites splendens by monitoring the behavioral responses of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Anopheles sinensis larvae when exposed to the predator. The results show that Tx. splendens prefers to consume Ae. aegypti larvae. The larvae exhibited different behavioral responses when Tx. splendens was present which suggest vulnerability in the presence of predators. "Thrashing" and "browsing" activities were greater in Ae. aegypti larvae. Such active and risky movements could cause vulnerability for the Ae. aegypti larvae due to increasing of water disturbance. In contrast, Ae. albopictus and An. sinensis larvae exhibited passive, low-risk behaviors, spending most of the time on the "wall" position near the edges of the container. We postulated that Ae. aegypti has less ability to perceive cues from predation and could not successfully alter its behavior to reduce risk of predation risk compared with Ae. albopictus and An. sinensis. Our results suggest that Tx. splendens is a suitable biocontrol agent in controlling dengue hemorrhagic vector, Ae. aegypti. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of America.

Dispersal and oviposition of laboratory-reared gravid females of Toxorhynchites moctezuma in an arid urban area of Sonora, Mexico.

PubMed

Macías-Duarte, Alberto; Alvarado-Castro, J Andrés; Dórame-Navarro, María E; Félix-Torres, A Amalia

2009-12-01

Dengue is a serious public health problem worldwide. Biological control of its vector, Aedes aegypti, remains a feasible option in light of increasing urbanization and insecticide resistance. We studied the dispersal and oviposition activity of Toxorhynchites moctezuma in a dengue-endemic urban area in SSonora, Mexico, to provide information about the potential of Toxorhynchites as a control agent for Ae. aegypti in arid areas. We released 210 and 100 laboratory-reared gravid females of Tx. moctezuma in 2 city blocks during the summer and fall of 1993. We set 3 1-liter containers and 1 car tire as sentinel traps at each of 10 backyards within each city block. Spatial and temporal patterns of dispersal and oviposition activity differed between city blocks and between releases. However, a Cox regression analysis showed no significant difference in the per-day probability of Tx. moctezuma oviposition events in sentinel traps between summer and fall releases. Per-day oviposition probability was nearly 5 times greater for sentineltraps that contained larvae of Ae. aegypti, suggesting a high specificity of the predator for its prey. The proportion of sentinel traps positive for Tx. moctezuma eggs did not increase substantially after the 8th day piost-release, reaching 66% and 23% for sentinel traps with and without Ae. aegypti larvae, respectively.

The instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction characterized in hepatocyte transplantation.

PubMed

Gustafson, Elisabet K; Elgue, Graciela; Hughes, Robin D; Mitry, Ragai R; Sanchez, Javier; Haglund, Ulf; Meurling, Staffan; Dhawan, Anil; Korsgren, Olle; Nilsson, Bo

2011-03-27

Hepatocyte transplantation (HcTx) has proven to be a safe procedure, although the functional results have been unsatisfactory, probably due to insufficient engraftment or a loss of transplanted mass or function. In this study, we investigate whether hepatocytes in contact with blood induce an inflammatory reaction leading to, similar to what happens in clinical islet transplantation, an instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) resulting in an early loss of transplanted cells. By using an experimental model that mimics the portal vein blood flow, we could study different parameters reflecting the effects on the innate immunity elicited by hepatocytes in contact with ABO-matched human blood. We report that all aspects of the IBMIR such as platelet and granulocyte consumption, coagulation, and complement activation were demonstrated. Addition of various specific inhibitors of coagulation allowed us to clearly delineate the various stages of the hepatocyte-triggered IBMIR and show that the reaction was triggered by tissue factor. Analysis of a case of clinical HcTx showed that hepatocyte-induced IBMIR also occurs in vivo. Both the inflammatory and the coagulation aspects were controlled by low-molecular-weight dextran sulfate. Isolated hepatocytes in contact with blood induce the IBMIR in vitro, and there are indications that these events are also relevant in vivo. According to these findings, HcTx would benefit from controlling a wider range of signals from the innate immune system.

Reconfigurable firmware-defined radios synthesized from standard digital logic cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faisal, Muhammad; Park, Youngmin; Wentzloff, David D.

2011-06-01

This paper presents recent work on reconfigurable all-digital radio architectures. We leverage the flexibility and scalability of synthesized digital cells to construct reconfigurable radio architectures that consume significantly less power than a software defined radio implementing similar architectures. We present two prototypes of such architectures that can receive and demodulate FM and FRS band signals. Moreover, a radio architecture based on a reconfigurable alldigital phase-locked loop for coherent demodulation is presented.

Reconfigurable environmentally adaptive computing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coxe, Robin L. (Inventor); Galica, Gary E. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for reconfigurable environmentally adaptive computing technology. An environmental signal representative of an external environmental condition is received. A processing configuration is automatically selected, based on the environmental signal, from a plurality of processing configurations. A reconfigurable processing element is reconfigured to operate according to the selected processing configuration. In some examples, the environmental condition is detected and the environmental signal is generated based on the detected condition.

Evaluation of costs to process and manage utility and driveway permits.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-10-01

Reviewing and processing utility and driveway permits at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) : requires a considerable amount of involvement and coordination by TxDOT personnel, both at the district : and division levels. Currently, TxDOT ...

Executive plan summary, an ITS strategic plan for Texas.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-07-01

The TxDOT ITS Strategic Plan supports the goals and objectives of the TxDOT agency Strategic : Plan. It has the same four goals as the TxDOT Strategic Plan: : - Maintain a safe system. : - Address congestion. : - Connect Texas communities. : - Become...

TxDOT uses of real-time commercial traffic data : opportunity matrix.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-01-01

Based on a TxDOT survey, a review of other state DOTs, and researcher understanding of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) needs, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) team developed a comprehensive list of opportunities for TxDOT to consider ...

Design Tools for Reconfigurable Hardware in Orbit (RHinO)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

2004-01-01

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

Constrained simultaneous multi-state reconfigurable wing structure configuration optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snyder, Matthew

A reconfigurable aircraft is capable of in-flight shape change to increase mission performance or provide multi-mission capability. Reconfigurability has always been a consideration in aircraft design, from the Wright Flyer, to the F-14, and most recently the Lockheed-Martin folding wing concept. The Wright Flyer used wing-warping for roll control, the F-14 had a variable-sweep wing to improve supersonic flight capabilities, and the Lockheed-Martin folding wing demonstrated radical in-flight shape change. This dissertation will examine two questions that aircraft reconfigurability raises, especially as reconfiguration increases in complexity. First, is there an efficient method to develop a light weight structure which supports all the loads generated by each configuration? Second, can this method include the capability to propose a sub-structure topology that weighs less than other considered designs? The first question requires a method that will design and optimize multiple configurations of a reconfigurable aerostructure. Three options exist, this dissertation will show one is better than the others. Simultaneous optimization considers all configurations and their respective load cases and constraints at the same time. Another method is sequential optimization which considers each configuration of the vehicle one after the other - with the optimum design variable values from the first configuration becoming the lower bounds for subsequent configurations. This process repeats for each considered configuration and the lower bounds update as necessary. The third approach is aggregate combination — this method keeps the thickness or area of each member for the most critical configuration, the configuration that requires the largest cross-section. This research will show that simultaneous optimization produces a lower weight and different topology for the considered structures when compared to the sequential and aggregate techniques. To answer the second question, the developed optimization algorithm combines simultaneous optimization with a new method for determining the optimum location of the structural members of the sub-structure. The method proposed here considers an over-populated structural model, one in which there are initially more members than necessary. Using a unique iterative process, the optimization algorithm removes members from the design if they do not carry enough load to justify their presence. The initial set of members includes ribs, spars and a series of cross-members that diagonally connect the ribs and spars. The final result is a different structure, which is lower weight than one developed from sequential optimization or aggregate combination, and suggests the primary load paths. Chapter 1 contains background information on reconfigurable aircraft and a description of the new reconfigurable air vehicle being considered by the Air Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory. This vehicle serves as a platform to test the proposed optimization process. Chapters 2 and 3 overview the optimization method and Chapter 4 provides some background analysis which is unique to this particular reconfigurable air vehicle. Chapter 5 contains the results of the optimizations and demonstrates how changing constraints or initial configuration impacts the final weight and topology of the wing structure. The final chapter contains conclusions and comments on some future work which would further enhance the effectiveness of the simultaneous reconfigurable structural topology optimization process developed and used in this dissertation.

An 8/15-channel Tx/Rx head neck RF coil combination with region-specific B1 + shimming for whole-brain MRI focused on the cerebellum at 7T.

PubMed

Pfaffenrot, Viktor; Brunheim, Sascha; Rietsch, Stefan H G; Koopmans, Peter J; Ernst, Thomas M; Kraff, Oliver; Orzada, Stephan; Quick, Harald H

2018-02-09

To design and evaluate an 8/15-channel transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) head-neck RF coil combination with region-specific B1+ shimming for whole-brain MRI with focus on improved functional MRI of the cerebellum at 7 T. An 8-channel transceiver RF head coil was combined with a 7-channel receive-only array. The noise parameters and acceleration capabilities of this 8Tx/15Rx coil setup were compared with a commercially available 1Tx/32Rx RF head coil. Region-specific 8-channel B1+ shimming was applied when using the 8Tx/15Rx RF coil. To evaluate the capability for functional MRI of the cerebellum, temporal SNR and statistical nonparametric maps for finger-tapping experiments with 14 healthy subjects were derived by applying a variable slice thickness gradient-echo echo-planar functional MRI sequence. The 8Tx/15Rx setup had a lower maximum noise correlation between channels, but higher average correlations compared with the 1Tx/32Rx coil. Both RF coils exhibited identical g-factors in the cerebellum with R = 3 acceleration. The enlarged FOV of the 8Tx/15Rx coil in combination with region-specific B1+ shimming increased homogeneity of the transmission field and temporal SNR in caudal cerebellar regions. Temporal SNR losses in cranial parts were reduced, resulting in more highly significant voxels in the caudally activated areas and identical patterns in the cranial cerebellar parts during a finger-tapping task. Compared with the 1Tx/32Rx RF coil, the presented 8Tx/15Rx RF coil combination successfully improves functional MRI of the human cerebellum at 7 T while maintaining whole-brain coverage. A clear temporal SNR gain in caudal cerebellar regions is shown. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Displacement-type quartz crystal microbalance immunosensing platform for ultrasensitive monitoring of small molecular toxins.

PubMed

Tang, Dianping; Zhang, Bing; Tang, Juan; Hou, Li; Chen, Guonan

2013-07-16

A novel displacement-type quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensing strategy, based on glucose and its analogue dextran for concanavalin A (ConA) binding sites, was designed for ultrasensitive monitoring of small molecular biotoxins (brevetoxin B, PbTx-2, used as a model) with signal amplification on a graphene-functionalized sensing interface. To construct such a QCM immunosensing platform, phenoxy-functionalized dextran (DexP) was initially assembled onto the surface of graphene-coated QCM probe via the π-stacking interaction, and ConA-labeled monoclonal mouse anti-PbTx-2 capture antibody was then immobilized on the DexP-modified probe by dextran-ConA binding. Gold nanoparticle heavily functionalized with glucoamylase and bovine serum albumin-PbTx-2 (PbTx-2-BSA) conjugate was employed as the trace tag. A competitive-type immunoassay format was adopted for the online monitoring of PbTx-2 between anti-PbTx-2 antibody immobilized on the QCM probe and PbTx-2-BSA labeled on the gold nanoparticle. Accompanying the gold nanoparticle, the carried glucoamylase could hydrolyze amylopectin in glucose. The produced glucose competed with dextran for ConA and displaced the ConA-streptavidin-anti-PbTx-2 complex from the QCM probe, resulting in the frequency change. Under optimal conditions, the frequency of the QCM immunosensor was indirectly proportional to the concentration of target PbTx-2 in the sample and exhibited a dynamic range from 1.0 pg·mL(-1) to 10 ng·mL(-1) with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.6 pg·mL(-1) at the 3Sblank level. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were below 7.5% and 9.5%, respectively. In addition, the methodology was evaluated for analysis of PbTx-2 in 15 spiked seafood samples and showed good accordance between results obtained by the displacement-type QCM immunosensor and a commercialized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

Ethyl pyruvate reduces acute lung damage following trauma and hemorrhagic shock via inhibition of NF-κB and HMGB1.

PubMed

Relja, Borna; Wagner, Nils; Franz, Niklas; Dieteren, Scott; Mörs, Katharina; Schmidt, Julia; Marzi, Ingo; Perl, Mario

2018-03-01

After blunt thoracic trauma (TxT) and hemorrhagic shock with resuscitation (H/R) intense local inflammatory response and cell loss frequently impair the pulmonary function. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) has been reported to improve the pathophysiologic derangements in models of acute inflammation. Here, we studied the effects of EP on inflammation and lung damage after TxT+H/R. Twenty four female Lewis rats (180-240g) were randomly divided into 3 groups: two groups underwent TxT followed by hemorrhagic shock (35±3mmHg) for 60min and resuscitation with either Ringers-Lactat (RL) alone or RL supplemented with EP (EP, 50mg/kg). Sham operated animals underwent surgical procedures. Two hours later bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), lung tissue and blood were collected for analyses. EP significantly improved pO 2 levels compared to RL after TxT+H/R. TxT+H/R induced elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase, total protein concentration in BAL and lung damage as evidenced by lung histology; these effects were significantly reduced by EP. Local inflammatory markers, lung TNF-alpha protein levels and infiltration with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) significantly decreased in EP vs. RL group after TxT+H/R. Indicators of apoptosis as reduced BCL-2 and increased FAS gene expression after TxT+H/R were significantly increased or decreased, respectively, by EP after TxT+H/R. EP reduced TxT+H/R-induced p65 phosphorylation, which was concomitant with reduced HMGB1 levels in lung sections. Taken together, TxT+H/R induced strong inflammatory response and apoptotic changes as well as lung injury which were markedly diminished by EP. Our results suggest that this might be mediated via NF-κB and/or HMGB1 dependent mechanism. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Fault-Tolerant and Reconfigurable Control of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-29

forces and moments are expressed as functions of angle of attack, sideslip angle, angular rates, and control surface deflection. L, M, and N are...invertible. As for matrix B, the control surfaces of the reusable launch vehicle are designed to control each axes angular rate of aircraft...literature as being invertible. As for matrix B, the control surfaces of the UAV are designed to control angular rate along each axis of the aircraft

Reconfigurable OR and XOR logic gates based on dual responsive on-off-on micromotors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Yonggang; Liu, Mei; Zhang, Hui; Dong, Bin

2016-04-01

In this study, we report a hemisphere-like micromotor. Intriguingly, the micromotor exhibits controllable on-off-on motion, which can be actuated by two different external stimuli (UV and NH3). Moreover, the moving direction of the micromotor can be manipulated by the direction in which UV and NH3 are applied. As a result, the motion accelerates when both stimuli are applied in the same direction and decelerates when the application directions are opposite to each other. More interestingly, the dual stimuli responsive micromotor can be utilized as a reconfigurable logic gate with UV and NH3 as the inputs and the motion of the micromotor as the output. By controlling the direction of the external stimuli, OR and XOR dual logic functions can be realized.In this study, we report a hemisphere-like micromotor. Intriguingly, the micromotor exhibits controllable on-off-on motion, which can be actuated by two different external stimuli (UV and NH3). Moreover, the moving direction of the micromotor can be manipulated by the direction in which UV and NH3 are applied. As a result, the motion accelerates when both stimuli are applied in the same direction and decelerates when the application directions are opposite to each other. More interestingly, the dual stimuli responsive micromotor can be utilized as a reconfigurable logic gate with UV and NH3 as the inputs and the motion of the micromotor as the output. By controlling the direction of the external stimuli, OR and XOR dual logic functions can be realized. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fig. S1-S6 and Videos S1-S5. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00752j

An efficient micro control unit with a reconfigurable filter design for wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs).

PubMed

Chen, Chiung-An; Chen, Shih-Lun; Huang, Hong-Yi; Luo, Ching-Hsing

2012-11-22

In this paper, a low-cost, low-power and high performance micro control unit (MCU) core is proposed for wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs). It consists of an asynchronous interface, a register bank, a reconfigurable filter, a slop-feature forecast, a lossless data encoder, an error correct coding (ECC) encoder, a UART interface, a power management (PWM), and a multi-sensor controller. To improve the system performance and expansion abilities, the asynchronous interface is added for handling signal exchanges between different clock domains. To eliminate the noise of various bio-signals, the reconfigurable filter is created to provide the functions of average, binomial and sharpen filters. The slop-feature forecast and the lossless data encoder is proposed to reduce the data of various biomedical signals for transmission. Furthermore, the ECC encoder is added to improve the reliability for the wireless transmission and the UART interface is employed the proposed design to be compatible with wireless devices. For long-term healthcare monitoring application, a power management technique is developed for reducing the power consumption of the WBSN system. In addition, the proposed design can be operated with four different bio-sensors simultaneously. The proposed design was successfully tested with a FPGA verification board. The VLSI architecture of this work contains 7.67-K gate counts and consumes the power of 5.8 mW or 1.9 mW at 100 MHz or 133 MHz processing rate using a TSMC 0.18 μm or 0.13 μm CMOS process. Compared with previous techniques, this design achieves higher performance, more functions, more flexibility and higher compatibility than other micro controller designs.

Two-Dimensional Titanium Carbide/RGO Composite for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Zhao, Chongjun; Wang, Qian; Zhang, Huang; Passerini, Stefano; Qian, Xiuzhen

2016-06-22

Ti3C2Tx, a 2D titanium carbide in the MXenes family, is obtained from Ti3AlC2 through selective etching of the Al layer. Due to its good conductivity and high volumetric capacitance, Ti3C2Tx is regarded as a promising candidate for supercapacitors. In this paper, the fabrication of Ti3C2Tx/RGO composites with different proportions of Ti3C2Tx and RGO is reported, in which RGO acts as a conductive "bridge" to connect different Ti3C2Tx blocks and a matrix to alleviate the volume change during charge/discharge process. In addition, RGO nanosheets can serve as a second nanoscale current collector and support as well for the electrode. The electrochemical performance of the as-fabricated Ti3C2Tx/RGO electrodes, characterized by CV, GCD, and EIS, are also reported. A highest specific capacitance (Cs) of 154.3 F/g at 2 A/g is obtained at the Ti3C2Tx: RGO weight ratio of 7:1 combined with an outstanding capacity retention (124.7 F/g) after 6000 cycles at 4 A/g.

Isolation and chemical characterization of agelaiatoxin8 (AvTx8) from Agelaia vicina wasp venom and its biological effects on GABA neurotransmission.

PubMed

Pizzo, Andrea B; Beleboni, Renê O; Gomes Carolino, Ruither O; de Oliveira, Luciana; Miranda, Antonio; Coutinho-Netto, Joaquim; Fontana, Andréia C K; Dos Santos, Wagner Ferreira

2017-10-01

Arthropod venoms are sources of molecules that may be useful tools to investigate molecular mechanisms of putative new medicines and laboratory drugs. Here we show the effects of the compound agelaiatoxin-8 (AVTx8), isolated from Agelaia vicina venom, on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission in rat brain synaptosomes. Analysis reveals that AvTx8 is composed by 14 amino acid residues with a molecular weight (MW) of 1567 Da. AvTx8 increased GABA release and inhibited GABA uptake in synaptosomes from rat cerebral cortex. AvTx8 inhibited GABA uptake and increased GABA release in the presence of Ca + , Na + , and K + channel blockers, suggesting that it acts directly on GABA transporters. In addition, AvTx8 significantly decreases GABA binding in synaptic membranes from rat brain cortex, suggesting that it also modulates the activity of GABA receptors. Moreover, AvTx8 decreased GAT-1- and GAT-3-mediated GABA uptake in transfected COS-7 cells. Accordingly, we suggest that AvTx8 modulates GABA neurotransmission and might provide a novel entry point for identifying a new class of GABA-modulating neuroprotective drugs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impact of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: patients' perspectives.

PubMed

Isla Pera, P; Moncho Vasallo, J; Guasch Andreu, O; Ricart Brulles, Mj; Torras Rabasa, A

2012-01-01

Few qualitative studies of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK Tx) have been published. The aims of this study were to explore from the perspective of patients, the experience of living with diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM), suffering from complications, and undergoing SPK Tx with good outcome; and to determine the impact of SPK Tx on patients and their social and cultural environment. We performed a focused ethnographic study. Twenty patients were interviewed. Data were analyzed using content analysis and constant comparison following the method proposed by Miles and Huberman. A functioning SPK Tx allowed renal replacement therapy and insulin to be discontinued. To describe their new situation, patients used words and phrases such as "miracle", "being reborn" or "coming back to life". Although the complications of T1DM, its surgery and treatment, and associated psychological problems did not disappear after SPK Tx, these were minimized when compared with the pretransplantation situation. For patients, SPK Tx represents a recovery of their health and autonomy despite remaining problems associated with the complications of T1DM and SPK Tx. The understanding of patients' existential framework and their experience of disease are key factors for planning new intervention and improvement strategies.

Bio-inspired Optimal Locomotion Reconfigurability of Quadruped Rovers using Central Pattern Generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bohra, Murtaza

Legged rovers are often considered as viable solutions for traversing unknown terrain. This work addresses the optimal locomotion reconfigurability of quadruped rovers, which consists of obtaining optimal locomotion modes, and transitioning between them. A 2D sagittal plane rover model is considered based on a domestic cat. Using a Genetic Algorithm, the gait, pose and control variables that minimize torque or maximize speed are found separately. The optimization approach takes into account the elimination of leg impact, while considering the entire variable spectrum. The optimal solutions are consistent with other works on gait optimization, and are similar to gaits found in quadruped animals as well. An online model-free gait planning framework is also implemented, that is based on Central Pattern Generators is implemented. It is used to generate joint and control trajectories for any arbitrarily varying speed profile, and shown to regulate locomotion transition and speed modulation, both endogenously and continuously.

Placing and shaping liposomes with reconfigurable DNA nanocages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhao; Yang, Yang; Pincet, Frederic; C. Llaguno, Marc; Lin, Chenxiang

2017-07-01

The diverse structure and regulated deformation of lipid bilayer membranes are among a cell's most fascinating features. Artificial membrane-bound vesicles, known as liposomes, are versatile tools for modelling biological membranes and delivering foreign objects to cells. To fully mimic the complexity of cell membranes and optimize the efficiency of delivery vesicles, controlling liposome shape (both statically and dynamically) is of utmost importance. Here we report the assembly, arrangement and remodelling of liposomes with designer geometry: all of which are exquisitely controlled by a set of modular, reconfigurable DNA nanocages. Tubular and toroid shapes, among others, are transcribed from DNA cages to liposomes with high fidelity, giving rise to membrane curvatures present in cells yet previously difficult to construct in vitro. Moreover, the conformational changes of DNA cages drive membrane fusion and bending with predictable outcomes, opening up opportunities for the systematic study of membrane mechanics.

Origami-Based Reconfigurable Metamaterials for Tunable Chirality.

PubMed

Wang, Zuojia; Jing, Liqiao; Yao, Kan; Yang, Yihao; Zheng, Bin; Soukoulis, Costas M; Chen, Hongsheng; Liu, Yongmin

2017-07-01

Origami is the art of folding two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as a flat sheet of paper, into complex and elaborate three-dimensional (3D) objects. This study reports origami-based metamaterials whose electromagnetic responses are dynamically controllable via switching the folding state of Miura-ori split-ring resonators. The deformation of the Miura-ori unit along the third dimension induces net electric and magnetic dipoles of split-ring resonators parallel or anti-parallel to each other, leading to the strong chiral responses. Circular dichroism as high as 0.6 is experimentally observed while the chirality switching is realized by controlling the deformation direction and kinematics. In addition, the relative density of the origami metamaterials can be dramatically reduced to only 2% of that of the unfolded structure. These results open a new avenue toward lightweight, reconfigurable, and deployable metadevices with simultaneously customized electromagnetic and mechanical properties. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Reconfigurable fuzzy cell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salazar, George A. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

This invention relates to a reconfigurable fuzzy cell comprising a digital control programmable gain operation amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, an electrically erasable PROM, and 8-bit counter and comparator, and supporting logic configured to achieve in real-time fuzzy systems high throughput, grade-of-membership or membership-value conversion of multi-input sensor data. The invention provides a flexible multiplexing-capable configuration, implemented entirely in hardware, for effectuating S-, Z-, and PI-membership functions or combinations thereof, based upon fuzzy logic level-set theory. A membership value table storing 'knowledge data' for each of S-, Z-, and PI-functions is contained within a nonvolatile memory for storing bits of membership and parametric information in a plurality of address spaces. Based upon parametric and control signals, analog sensor data is digitized and converted into grade-of-membership data. In situ learn and recognition modes of operation are also provided.

Research on Self-Reconfigurable Modular Robot System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamimura, Akiya; Murata, Satoshi; Yoshida, Eiichi; Kurokawa, Haruhisa; Tomita, Kohji; Kokaji, Shigeru

Growing complexity of artificial systems arises reliability and flexibility issues of large system design. Robots are not exception of this, and many attempts have been made to realize reliable and flexible robot systems. Distributed modular composition of robot is one of the most effective approaches to attain such abilities and has a potential to adapt to its surroundings by changing its configuration autonomously according to information of surroundings. In this paper, we propose a novel three-dimensional self-reconfigurable robotic module. Each module has a very simple structure that consists of two semi-cylindrical parts connected by a link. The modular system is capable of not only building static structure but also generating dynamic robotic motion. We present details of the mechanical/electrical design of the developed module and its control system architecture. Experiments using ten modules with centralized control demonstrate robotic configuration change, crawling locomotion and three types of quadruped locomotion.

Placing and shaping liposomes with reconfigurable DNA nanocages.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhao; Yang, Yang; Pincet, Frederic; Llaguno, Marc C; Lin, Chenxiang

2017-06-23

The diverse structure and regulated deformation of lipid bilayer membranes are among a cell's most fascinating features. Artificial membrane-bound vesicles, known as liposomes, are versatile tools for modelling biological membranes and delivering foreign objects to cells. To fully mimic the complexity of cell membranes and optimize the efficiency of delivery vesicles, controlling liposome shape (both statically and dynamically) is of utmost importance. Here we report the assembly, arrangement and remodelling of liposomes with designer geometry: all of which are exquisitely controlled by a set of modular, reconfigurable DNA nanocages. Tubular and toroid shapes, among others, are transcribed from DNA cages to liposomes with high fidelity, giving rise to membrane curvatures present in cells yet previously difficult to construct in vitro. Moreover, the conformational changes of DNA cages drive membrane fusion and bending with predictable outcomes, opening up opportunities for the systematic study of membrane mechanics.

In-flight detection and identification and accommodation of aircraft icing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caliskan, Fikret; Hajiyev, Chingiz

2012-11-01

The recent improvements and research on aviation have focused on the subject of aircraft safe flight even in the severe weather conditions. As one type of such weather conditions, aircraft icing considerably has negative effects on the aircraft flight performance. The risks of the iced aerodynamic surfaces of the flying aircraft have been known since the beginning of the first flights. Until recent years, as a solution for this event, the icing conditions ahead flight route are estimated from radars or other environmental sensors, hence flight paths are changed, or, if it exists, anti-icing/de-icing systems are used. This work aims at the detection and identification of airframe icing based on statistical properties of aircraft dynamics and reconfigurable control protecting aircraft from hazardous icing conditions. In this paper, aircraft icing identification based on neural networks is investigated. Following icing identification, reconfigurable control is applied for protecting the aircraft from hazardous icing conditions.

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of two peptide LyeTx I derivatives modified with the chelating agent HYNIC for radiolabeling with technetium-99m.

PubMed

Fuscaldi, Leonardo Lima; Dos Santos, Daniel Moreira; Pinheiro, Natália Gabriela Silva; Araújo, Raquel Silva; de Barros, André Luís Branco; Resende, Jarbas Magalhães; Fernandes, Simone Odília Antunes; de Lima, Maria Elena; Cardoso, Valbert Nascimento

2016-01-01

Current diagnostic methods and imaging techniques are not able to differentiate septic and aseptic inflammation. Thus, reliable methods are sought to provide this distinction and scintigraphic imaging is an interesting option, since it is based on physiological changes. In this context, radiolabeled antimicrobial peptides have been investigated as they accumulate in infectious sites instead of aseptic inflammation. The peptide LyeTx I, from the venom of Lycosa erythrognatha, has potent antimicrobial activity. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize LyeTx I derivatives with the chelating compound HYNIC, to evaluate their antimicrobial activity and to radiolabel them with (99m)Tc. Two LyeTx I derivatives, HYNIC-LyeTx I (N-terminal modification) and LyeTx I-K-HYNIC (C-terminal modification), were synthesized by Fmoc strategy and purified by RP-HPLC. The purified products were assessed by RP-HPLC and MALDI-ToF-MS analysis. Microbiological assays were performed against S. aureus (ATCC® 6538) and E. coli (ATCC® 10536) in liquid medium to calculate the MIC. The radiolabeling procedure of LyeTx I-K-HYNIC with (99m)Tc was performed in the presence of co-ligands (tricine and EDDA) and reducing agent (SnCl2 (.) 2H2O), and standardized taking into account the amount of peptide, reducing agent, pH and heating. Radiochemical purity analysis was performed by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel strips and the radiolabeled compound was assessed by RP-HPLC and radioactivity measurement of the collected fractions. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, followed by Tukey test (p-values < 0.05). Both LyeTx I derivatives were suitably synthesized and purified, as shown by RP-HPLC and MALDI-ToF-MS analysis. The microbiological test showed that HYNIC-LyeTx I (N-terminal modification) did not inhibit bacterial growth, whereas LyeTx I-K-HYNIC (C-terminal modification) showed a MIC of 5.05 μmol(.)L(-1) (S. aureus) and 10.10 μmol(.)L(-1) (E. coli). Thus, only the latter was radiolabeled with (99m)Tc. The radiochemical purity analysis of LyeTx I-K-HYNIC-(99m)Tc showed that the optimal radiolabeling conditions (10 μg of LyeTx I-K-HYNIC; 250 μg of SnCl2 (.) 2H2O; pH = 7; heating for 15 min) yielded a radiochemical purity of 87 ± 1 % (n = 3). However, RP-HPLC data suggested (99m)Tc transchelation from LyeTx I-K-HYNIC to the co-ligands (tricine and EDDA). The binding of HYNIC to the N-terminal portion of LyeTx I seems to affect its activity against bacteria. Nevertheless, the radiolabeling of the C-terminal derivative, LyeTx I-K-HYNIC, must be better investigated to optimize the radiolabeled compound, in order to use it as a specific imaging agent to distinguish septic and aseptic inflammation.

Direction of Arrival Estimation Using a Reconfigurable Array

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-05-06

civilian world. Keywords: Direction-of-arrival Estimation MUSIC algorithm Reconfigurable Array Experimental Created by Neevia Personal...14. SUBJECT TERMS: Direction-of-arrival ; Estimation ; MUSIC algorithm ; Reconfigurable ; Array ; Experimental 16. PRICE CODE 17...9 1.5 MuSiC Algorithm

Reconfigurable multiport EPON repeater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oishi, Masayuki; Inohara, Ryo; Agata, Akira; Horiuchi, Yukio

2009-11-01

An extended reach EPON repeater is one of the solutions to effectively expand FTTH service areas. In this paper, we propose a reconfigurable multi-port EPON repeater for effective accommodation of multiple ODNs with a single OLT line card. The proposed repeater, which has multi-ports in both OLT and ODN sides, consists of TRs, BTRs with the CDR function and a reconfigurable electrical matrix switch, can accommodate multiple ODNs to a single OLT line card by controlling the connection of the matrix switch. Although conventional EPON repeaters require full OLT line cards to accommodate subscribers from the initial installation stage, the proposed repeater can dramatically reduce the number of required line cards especially when the number of subscribers is less than a half of the maximum registerable users per OLT. Numerical calculation results show that the extended reach EPON system with the proposed EPON repeater can save 17.5% of the initial installation cost compared with a conventional repeater, and can be less expensive than conventional systems up to the maximum subscribers especially when the percentage of ODNs in lightly-populated areas is higher.

Transistor Level Circuit Experiments using Evolvable Hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stoica, A.; Zebulum, R. S.; Keymeulen, D.; Ferguson, M. I.; Daud, Taher; Thakoor, A.

2005-01-01

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) performs research in fault tolerant, long life, and space survivable electronics for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). With that focus, JPL has been involved in Evolvable Hardware (EHW) technology research for the past several years. We have advanced the technology not only by simulation and evolution experiments, but also by designing, fabricating, and evolving a variety of transistor-based analog and digital circuits at the chip level. EHW refers to self-configuration of electronic hardware by evolutionary/genetic search mechanisms, thereby maintaining existing functionality in the presence of degradations due to aging, temperature, and radiation. In addition, EHW has the capability to reconfigure itself for new functionality when required for mission changes or encountered opportunities. Evolution experiments are performed using a genetic algorithm running on a DSP as the reconfiguration mechanism and controlling the evolvable hardware mounted on a self-contained circuit board. Rapid reconfiguration allows convergence to circuit solutions in the order of seconds. The paper illustrates hardware evolution results of electronic circuits and their ability to perform under 230 C temperature as well as radiations of up to 250 kRad.

Thioredoxin-interacting Protein Mediates High Glucose-induced Reactive Oxygen Species Generation by Mitochondria and the NADPH Oxidase, Nox4, in Mesangial Cells*

PubMed Central

Shah, Anu; Xia, Ling; Goldberg, Howard; Lee, Ken W.; Quaggin, Susan E.; Fantus, I. George

2013-01-01

Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TxNIP) is up-regulated by high glucose and is associated with oxidative stress. It has been implicated in hyperglycemia-induced β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. As high glucose and oxidative stress mediate diabetic nephropathy (DN), the contribution of TxNIP was investigated in renal mesangial cell reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and collagen synthesis. To determine the role of TxNIP, mouse mesangial cells (MC) cultured from wild-type C3H and TxNIP-deficient Hcb-19 mice were incubated in HG. Confocal microscopy was used to measure total and mitochondrial ROS production (DCF and MitoSOX) and collagen IV. Trx and NADPH oxidase activities were assayed and NADPH oxidase isoforms, Nox2 and Nox4, and antioxidant enzymes were determined by immunoblotting. C3H MC exposed to HG elicited a significant increase in cellular and mitochondrial ROS as well as Nox4 protein expression and NADPH oxidase activation, whereas Hcb-19 MC showed no response. Trx activity was attenuated by HG only in C3H MC. These defects in Hcb-19 MC were not due to increased antioxidant enzymes or scavenging of ROS, but associated with decreased ROS generation. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of TxNIP in Hcb-19 MC and TxNIP knockdown with siRNA in C3H confirmed the specific role of TxNIP. Collagen IV accumulation in HG was markedly reduced in Hcb-19 cells. TxNIP is a critical component of the HG-ROS signaling pathway, required for the induction of mitochondrial and total cell ROS and the NADPH oxidase isoform, Nox4. TxNIP is a potential target to prevent DN. PMID:23329835

Two Decades of Lung Retransplantation: A Single-Center Experience.

PubMed

Hall, David J; Belli, Erol V; Gregg, Jon A; Salgado, Juan C; Baz, Maher A; Staples, E Denmark; Beaver, Thomas M; Machuca, Tiago N

2017-04-01

Lung retransplantation (ReTx) comprises an increasing share of lung transplants and recently has shown improved outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors affecting overall survival after pulmonary ReTx. The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify patients undergoing lung transplantation at our institution from 1995 to 2014. Of the total 542 lung transplants performed, 87 (16.1%) were ReTxs. The primary outcome was overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to assess the effect of recipient and donor characteristics on survival. Of the patients who underwent ReTx, median survival was 2 years. Predictors of worse survival include recipient age between 50 and 60 years (relative risk, 4.3; p = 0.02) or older than 60 years (relative risk, 10.2; p < 0.001), and time to ReTx of less than 2 years (relative risk, 3.8; p = 0.01). ReTx for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome had longer median survival than for restrictive chronic lung allograft dysfunction (2.7 years vs 0.9 years; p = 0.055). Overall survival of ReTx patients after initiation of the lung allocation score was not significantly different (p = 0.21). Lung ReTx outcomes are significantly worse than for primary transplantation but may be appropriate in well-selected patients with certain diagnoses. Lung ReTx in patients older than 50 years or within 2 years of primary lung transplantation was associated with decreased survival. Further work is warranted to identify patients who benefit most from ReTx. Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 cotreatment versus insulin-like growth factor-I alone in two brothers with growth hormone insensitivity syndrome: effects on insulin sensitivity, body composition and linear growth.

PubMed

Ekström, Klas; Carlsson-Skwirut, Christine; Ritzén, E Martin; Bang, Peter

2011-01-01

Growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) is caused by a defective growth hormone receptor (GHR) and is associated with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) deficiency, severely short stature and, from adolescence, fasting hyperglycemia and obesity. We studied the effects of treatment with IGF-I in either a 1:1 molar complex with IGFBP-3 (IGF-I/BP-3-Tx) or with IGF-I alone (IGF-I-Tx) on metabolism and linear growth. Two brothers, compound heterozygous for a GHR gene defect, were studied. After 8 months without treatment, we examined the short- and long-term effects of IGF-I/BP-3-Tx and, subsequently, IGF-I-Tx on 12-hour overnight levels of IGF-I, GH, insulin, IGFBP-1, insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and linear growth. Mean overnight levels of insulin decreased and IGFBP-1, a measure of hepatic insulin sensitivity, increased on both regimens, but was more pronounced on IGF-I-Tx. Insulin sensitivity by clamp showed no consistent changes. Lean body mass increased and abdominal fat mass decreased in both subjects on IGF-I-Tx. However, the changes were inconsistent during IGF-I/BP-3-Tx. Height velocity was low without treatment, increased slightly on IGF-I/BP-3-Tx and doubled on IGF-I-Tx. Both modalities of IGF-I improved determinants of hepatic insulin sensitivity, body composition and linear growth rate; however, IGF-I alone seemed to be more efficient. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Platelet aggregation caused by Carybdea rastonii toxins (CrTX-I, II and III) obtained from a jellyfish, Carybdea rastonii.

PubMed

Azuma, H; Sekizaki, S; Satoh, A; Nakajima, T

1986-05-01

The pharmacological mechanisms of platelet aggregation induced by highly toxic proteins (CrTX-I, CrTX-II, and CrTX-III) obtained from tentacles of a jellyfish, Carybdea rastonii, were investigated. When the partially purified toxin (pCrTX) and CrTXs were added to the citrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP), aggregation was produced in a concentration-dependent manner. The activity of CrTXs was approximately 100 times more potent than pCrTX. The CrTXs-induced aggregation was little affected by indomethacin and quinacrine at concentrations sufficient to inhibit arachidonic acid- and collagen-induced aggregation. The CrTXs-induced aggregation in washed platelets was significantly augmented in the presence of Ca2+. The pretreatment with verapamil failed to modify this augmentation of aggregation. The concentration of cytoplasmic-free calcium ([Ca2+]i) of platelets was increased by CrTXs at the same concentrations that produced aggregation. This effect of CrTXs was again little affected by verapamil. CrTXs at the same concentrations as those that produced aggregation and increased [Ca2+]i caused depolarization of platelets, which was unchanged after pretreatment with sodium or potassium transport inhibitors. CrTX-I significantly increased the 22Na flux into platelets and this effect of CrTX-I was unaffected by tetrodotoxin. The CrTX-I-induced aggregation, depolarization, and increase in [Ca2+]i were all significantly attenuated in the low Na+ medium. These results suggest that CrTXs cause a massive depolarization by increasing cation permeability and this generalized depolarization permits an inward movement of Ca2+ down its electrochemical gradient which, in turn, triggers platelet aggregation.

Variation in energy sorghum hybrid TX08001 biomass composition and lignin chemistry during development under irrigated and non-irrigated field conditions

PubMed Central

Olson, Sara N.; Ritter, Kimberley B.; Herb, Dustin W.; Karlen, Steven D.; Lu, Fachuang; Ralph, John; Rooney, William L.; Mullet, John E.

2018-01-01

This study was conducted to document the extent and basis of compositional variation of shoot biomass of the energy Sorghum bicolor hybrid TX08001 during development under field conditions. TX08001 is capable of accumulating ~40 Mg/ha of dry biomass under good growing conditions and this genotype allocates ~80% of its shoot biomass to stems. After 150 days of growth TX08001 stems had a fresh/dry weight ratio of ~3:1 and soluble biomass accounted for ~30% of stem biomass. A panel of diverse energy sorghum genotypes varied ~6-fold in the ratio of stem structural to soluble biomass after 150 days of growth. Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis (NIRS) showed that TX08001 leaves accumulated higher levels of protein, water extractives and ash compared to stems, which have higher sugar, cellulose, and lignin contents. TX08001 stem sucrose content varied during development, whereas the composition of TX08001 stem cell walls, which consisted of ~45–49% cellulose, ~27–30% xylan, and ~15–18% lignin, remained constant after 90 days post emergence until the end of the growing season (180 days). TX08001 and Della stem syringyl (S)/guaiacyl (G) (0.53–0.58) and ferulic acid (FA)/para-coumaric acid (pCA) ratios were similar whereas ratios of pCA/(S+G) differed between these genotypes. Additionally, an analysis of irrigated versus non-irrigated TX08001 revealed that non-irrigated hybrids exhibited a 50% reduction in total cell wall biomass, an ~2-fold increase in stem sugars, and an ~25% increase in water extractives relative to irrigated hybrids. This study provides a baseline of information to help guide further optimization of energy sorghum composition for various end-uses. PMID:29684037

Triiodothyronine Acutely Stimulates Glucose Transport into L6 Muscle Cells Without Increasing Surface GLUT4, GLUT1, or GLUT3

PubMed Central

Teixeira, Silvania Silva; Tamrakar, Akhilesh K.; Goulart-Silva, Francemilson; Serrano-Nascimento, Caroline; Klip, Amira

2012-01-01

Background Thyroid hormones (THs) act genomically to stimulate glucose transport by elevating glucose transporter (Slc2a) expression and glucose utilization by cells. However, nongenomic effects of THs are now emerging. Here, we assess how triiodothyronine (T3) acutely affects glucose transport and the content of GLUT4, GLUT1, and GLUT3 at the surface of muscle cells, and possible interactions between T3 and insulin action. Methods Differentiated L6 myotubes transfected with myc-tagged Slc2a4 (L6-GLUT4myc) or Slc2a1 (L6-GLUT1myc) and wild-type L6 myotubes were studied in the following conditions: control, hypothyroid (Tx), Tx plus T3, Tx plus insulin, and Tx plus insulin and T3. Results Glucose uptake and GLUT4 content at the cell surface decreased in the Tx group relative to controls. T3 treatment for 30 minutes increased glucose transport into L6-GLUT4myc cells without altering surface GLUT4 content, which increased only thereafter. The total amount of GLUT4 protein remained unchanged among the groups studied. The surface GLUT1 content of L6-GLUT1myc cells also remained unaltered after T3 treatment; however, in these cells glucose transport was not stimulated by T3. In wild-type L6 cells, although T3 treatment increased the total amount of GLUT3, it did not change the surface GLUT3 content. Moreover, within 30 minutes, T3 stimulation of glucose uptake was additive to that of insulin in L6-GLUT4myc cells. As expected, insulin elevated surface GLUT4 content and glucose uptake. However, interestingly, surface GLUT4 content remained unchanged or even dropped with T3 plus insulin. Conclusions These data reveal that T3 rapidly increases glucose uptake in L6-GLUT4myc cells, which, at least for 30 minutes, did not depend on an increment in GLUT4 at the cell surface yet potentiates insulin action. We propose that this rapid T3 effect involves activation of GLUT4 transporters at the cell surface, but cannot discount the involvement of an unknown GLUT. PMID:22663547

Formation of holographic memory for optically reconfigurable gate array by angle-multiplexing recording of multi-circuit information in liquid crystal composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogiwara, Akifumi; Maekawa, Hikaru; Watanabe, Minoru; Moriwaki, Retsu

2014-02-01

A holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) memory to record multi-context information for an optically reconfigurable gate array is formed by the angle-multiplexing recording using a successive laser exposure in liquid crystal (LC) composites. The laser illumination system is constructed using the half mirror and photomask written by the different configuration contexts placed on the motorized stages under the control of a personal computer. The fabricated holographic memory implements a precise reconstruction of configuration contexts corresponding to the various logical circuits such as OR circuit and NOR circuit by the laser illumination at different incident angle in the HPDLC memory.

Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna for Deca-Band 5 G/LTE/WWAN Mobile Terminal Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Lingsheng; Cheng, Biyu; Jia, Hongting

2018-04-01

In this paper, a frequency reconfigurable antenna for 5 G/LTE/WWAN mobile terminal applications is presented. The proposed antenna consists of a radiation element which is folded on a dielectric cuboid. Four PIN diodes located on the antenna element are used for frequency reconfigration. By controlling the states of four PIN diodes with an 8-bit microcontroller, a broad band which can cover deca-band as LTE700/2300/2500, GSM850/900/1800/1900, UMTS 2100, WLAN2400 and the future 5 G or LTE3600 is obtained with a compacted size of 40×8×5mm3. The antenna gain, efficiency and radiation characteristics are also shown.

A polymorphic reconfigurable emulator for parallel simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parrish, E. A., Jr.; Mcvey, E. S.; Cook, G.

1980-01-01

Microprocessor and arithmetic support chip technology was applied to the design of a reconfigurable emulator for real time flight simulation. The system developed consists of master control system to perform all man machine interactions and to configure the hardware to emulate a given aircraft, and numerous slave compute modules (SCM) which comprise the parallel computational units. It is shown that all parts of the state equations can be worked on simultaneously but that the algebraic equations cannot (unless they are slowly varying). Attempts to obtain algorithms that will allow parellel updates are reported. The word length and step size to be used in the SCM's is determined and the architecture of the hardware and software is described.

Complex photonic lattices embedded with tailored intrinsic defects by a dynamically reconfigurable single step interferometric approach

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

Xavier, Jolly, E-mail: jolly.xavierp@physics.iitd.ac.in; Joseph, Joby, E-mail: joby@physics.iitd.ac.in

2014-02-24

We report sculptured diverse photonic lattices simultaneously embedded with intrinsic defects of tunable type, number, shape as well as position by a single-step dynamically reconfigurable fabrication approach based on a programmable phase spatial light modulator-assisted interference lithography. The presented results on controlled formation of intrinsic defects in periodic as well as transversely quasicrystallographic lattices, irrespective and independent of their designed lattice geometry, portray the flexibility and versatility of the approach. The defect-formation in photonic lattices is also experimentally analyzed. Further, we also demonstrate the feasibility of fabrication of such defects-embedded photonic lattices in a photoresist, aiming concrete integrated photonic applications.

SECTION AA, AXONOMETRIC Dyess Air Force Base, Atlas F ...

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

SECTION A-A, AXONOMETRIC - Dyess Air Force Base, Atlas F Missle Site S-8, Launch Control Center (LCC), Approximately 3 miles east of Winters, 500 feet southwest of Highway 17700, northwest of Launch Facility, Winters, Runnels County, TX

STS-3 FLIGHT DAY 1 ACTIVITIES - MISSION OPERATIONS CONTROL ROOM (MOCR) - JSC

NASA Image and Video Library

1982-03-22

MOCR during Flight Day 1 of the STS-3 Mission. View: Thomas L. Moser, of the Structures and Mechanics Division, briefing Flight Director Eugene Kranz, Flight Operations, and Dr. Kraft, JSC Director. JSC, HOUSTON, TX

Single-Event Effect (SEE) Survey of Advanced Reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Arrays: NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, Gregory

2011-01-01

The NEPP Reconfigurable Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) task has been charged to evaluate reconfigurable FPGA technologies for use in space. Under this task, the Xilinx single-event-immune, reconfigurable FPGA (SIRF) XQR5VFX130 device was evaluated for SEE. Additionally, the Altera Stratix-IV and SiliconBlue iCE65 were screened for single-event latchup (SEL).

Incorporating sustainability into TxDOT's transportation decision making : summary of work performed, methods used, and results achieved.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-02-01

This report summarizes the work performed in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 and 2010 under TxDOT : Implementation Project 5-5541-01 Regional Workshops on Sustainability Enhancement : Tool. TxDOT Research Project 0-5541, Developing Sustainable Tra...

MmTX1 and MmTX2 from coral snake venom potently modulate GABAA receptor activity.

PubMed

Rosso, Jean-Pierre; Schwarz, Jürgen R; Diaz-Bustamante, Marcelo; Céard, Brigitte; Gutiérrez, José M; Kneussel, Matthias; Pongs, Olaf; Bosmans, Frank; Bougis, Pierre E

2015-02-24

GABAA receptors shape synaptic transmission by modulating Cl(-) conductance across the cell membrane. Remarkably, animal toxins that specifically target GABAA receptors have not been identified. Here, we report the discovery of micrurotoxin1 (MmTX1) and MmTX2, two toxins present in Costa Rican coral snake venom that tightly bind to GABAA receptors at subnanomolar concentrations. Studies with recombinant and synthetic toxin variants on hippocampal neurons and cells expressing common receptor compositions suggest that MmTX1 and MmTX2 allosterically increase GABAA receptor susceptibility to agonist, thereby potentiating receptor opening as well as desensitization, possibly by interacting with the α(+)/β(-) interface. Moreover, hippocampal neuron excitability measurements reveal toxin-induced transitory network inhibition, followed by an increase in spontaneous activity. In concert, toxin injections into mouse brain result in reduced basal activity between intense seizures. Altogether, we characterized two animal toxins that enhance GABAA receptor sensitivity to agonist, thereby establishing a previously unidentified class of tools to study this receptor family.

The roles of prostaglandin endoperoxides, thromboxane A2 and adenosine diphosphate in collagen-induced aggregation in man and the rat.

PubMed Central

Emms, H.; Lewis, G. P.

1986-01-01

The effects of aspirin, carboxyheptylimidazole (CHI) and creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase (CP/CPK) on platelet aggregation and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) formation induced by collagen have been examined in vitro. Platelets from two species, man and the rat, have been used. In man, aspirin and CHI abolished TxB2 production but only partially inhibited aggregation. CP/CPK partially inhibited aggregation and TxB2 formation. In the rat, aspirin and CHI abolished TxB2 formation but had no effect on aggregation. CP/CPK completely inhibited aggregation and partially inhibited TxB2 generation. In man, collagen-induced aggregation is largely dependent on ADP and to a lesser extent on arachidonate metabolites whereas, in the rat, ADP alone mediates aggregation induced by this agonist. The results with CP/CPK suggest that TxB2 formation is dependent either on the prior release of platelet ADP or on aggregation itself rather than being responsible for the aggregation response. PMID:3082399

FPGA-Based Reconfigurable Processor for Ultrafast Interlaced Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging

PubMed Central

Alqasemi, Umar; Li, Hai; Aguirre, Andrés; Zhu, Quing

2016-01-01

In this paper, we report, to the best of our knowledge, a unique field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based reconfigurable processor for real-time interlaced co-registered ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging and its application in imaging tumor dynamic response. The FPGA is used to control, acquire, store, delay-and-sum, and transfer the data for real-time co-registered imaging. The FPGA controls the ultrasound transmission and ultrasound and photoacoustic data acquisition process of a customized 16-channel module that contains all of the necessary analog and digital circuits. The 16-channel module is one of multiple modules plugged into a motherboard; their beamformed outputs are made available for a digital signal processor (DSP) to access using an external memory interface (EMIF). The FPGA performs a key role through ultrafast reconfiguration and adaptation of its structure to allow real-time switching between the two imaging modes, including transmission control, laser synchronization, internal memory structure, beamforming, and EMIF structure and memory size. It performs another role by parallel accessing of internal memories and multi-thread processing to reduce the transfer of data and the processing load on the DSP. Furthermore, because the laser will be pulsing even during ultrasound pulse-echo acquisition, the FPGA ensures that the laser pulses are far enough from the pulse-echo acquisitions by appropriate time-division multiplexing (TDM). A co-registered ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging system consisting of four FPGA modules (64-channels) is constructed, and its performance is demonstrated using phantom targets and in vivo mouse tumor models. PMID:22828830

FPGA-based reconfigurable processor for ultrafast interlaced ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging.

PubMed

Alqasemi, Umar; Li, Hai; Aguirre, Andrés; Zhu, Quing

2012-07-01

In this paper, we report, to the best of our knowledge, a unique field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based reconfigurable processor for real-time interlaced co-registered ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging and its application in imaging tumor dynamic response. The FPGA is used to control, acquire, store, delay-and-sum, and transfer the data for real-time co-registered imaging. The FPGA controls the ultrasound transmission and ultrasound and photoacoustic data acquisition process of a customized 16-channel module that contains all of the necessary analog and digital circuits. The 16-channel module is one of multiple modules plugged into a motherboard; their beamformed outputs are made available for a digital signal processor (DSP) to access using an external memory interface (EMIF). The FPGA performs a key role through ultrafast reconfiguration and adaptation of its structure to allow real-time switching between the two imaging modes, including transmission control, laser synchronization, internal memory structure, beamforming, and EMIF structure and memory size. It performs another role by parallel accessing of internal memories and multi-thread processing to reduce the transfer of data and the processing load on the DSP. Furthermore, because the laser will be pulsing even during ultrasound pulse-echo acquisition, the FPGA ensures that the laser pulses are far enough from the pulse-echo acquisitions by appropriate time-division multiplexing (TDM). A co-registered ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging system consisting of four FPGA modules (64-channels) is constructed, and its performance is demonstrated using phantom targets and in vivo mouse tumor models.

Detail view of the "underside" of the Orbiter Maneuvering/Reaction Control ...

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

Detail view of the "underside" of the Orbiter Maneuvering/Reaction Control Systems pod looking at the two spherical propellant tanks for the Reaction Control System, and the elongated propellant tanks for the Orbiter Maneuvering System. This view was taken at Kennedy Space Center. - Space Transportation System, Orbiter Discovery (OV-103), Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX

Use of carfentrazone for control of natural pine in forestry site preparation areas

Treesearch

Andrew W. Ezell; Jimmie L. Yeiser

2010-01-01

Carfentrazone was applied in combination with imazapyr alone and three-way mixes with imazapyr and glyphosate to evaluate efficacy of natural pine control during site preparation activities. Results from four sites (two in MS, and one each in TX and SC) indicated that carfentrazone could assist in the control of small pine seedlings (less than six inches tall), but the...

Local SAR in Parallel Transmission Pulse Design

PubMed Central

Lee, Joonsung; Gebhardt, Matthias; Wald, Lawrence L.; Adalsteinsson, Elfar

2011-01-01

The management of local and global power deposition in human subjects (Specific Absorption Rate, SAR) is a fundamental constraint to the application of parallel transmission (pTx) systems. Even though the pTx and single channel have to meet the same SAR requirements, the complex behavior of the spatial distribution of local SAR for transmission arrays poses problems that are not encountered in conventional single-channel systems and places additional requirements on pTx RF pulse design. We propose a pTx pulse design method which builds on recent work to capture the spatial distribution of local SAR in numerical tissue models in a compressed parameterization in order to incorporate local SAR constraints within computation times that accommodate pTx pulse design during an in vivo MRI scan. Additionally, the algorithm yields a Protocol-specific Ultimate Peak in Local SAR (PUPiL SAR), which is shown to bound the achievable peak local SAR for a given excitation profile fidelity. The performance of the approach was demonstrated using a numerical human head model and a 7T eight-channel transmit array. The method reduced peak local 10g SAR by 14–66% for slice-selective pTx excitations and 2D selective pTx excitations compared to a pTx pulse design constrained only by global SAR. The primary tradeoff incurred for reducing peak local SAR was an increase in global SAR, up to 34% for the evaluated examples, which is favorable in cases where local SAR constraints dominate the pulse applications. PMID:22083594

Basal damage and oxidative DNA damage in children with chronic kidney disease measured by use of the comet assay.

PubMed

Aykanat, Banu; Demircigil, Gonca Cakmak; Fidan, Kibriya; Buyan, Necla; Gulleroglu, Kaan; Baskin, Esra; Bayrakci, Umut Selda; Sepici, Aylin; Buyukkaragoz, Bahar; Karakayali, Hamdi; Haberal, Mehmet; Burgaz, Sema

2011-10-09

One consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an elevated risk for cancer. There is sufficient evidence to conclude that there is an increased incidence of at least some cancers in kidney-dialysis patients. Cancer risk after kidney transplantation has mainly been attributed to immunosuppressive therapy. There are no data evaluating DNA damage in children with CKD, in dialysis patients, or following kidney transplantation. In this study, the comet assay and the enzyme-modified comet assay - with the use of endonuclease III (Endo III) and formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (FPG) enzymes - were conducted to investigate the basal damage and the oxidative DNA damage as a result of treatment in peripheral blood lymphocytes of children. Children at various stages of treatment for kidney disease, including pre-dialysis patients (PreD) (n=17), regular hemodialysis patients (HD) (n=15), and those that received kidney transplants (Tx) (n=17), comprised the study group. They were compared with age- and gender-matched healthy children (n=20) as a control group. Our results show that the %DNA intensity, a measure of basal damage, was significantly increased in children with CKD (mean ± SD) (5.22 ± 1.57) and also in each of the PreD, HD, and Tx groups [(4.92 ± 1.23), (4.91 ± 1.35), and (5.79 ± 1.94), respectively, vs the healthy children (2.74 ± 2.91) (p<0.001). Significant increases in oxidative DNA damage were only found in the FPG-sensitive sites for the PreD and Tx groups, compared with control and HD groups (p<0.05), suggesting that basal DNA damage was more evident for the PreD, HD, and Tx groups. The findings of the present study indicate a critical need for further research on genomic damage with different endpoints and also for preventive measures and improvements in treatment of pediatric patients, in order to improve their life expectancy. 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of low-dose aspirin on maternal blood pressure and vascular function in an experimental model of gestational hypertension.

PubMed

Osikoya, Oluwatobiloba; Jaini, Paresh A; Nguyen, An; Valdes, Melissa; Goulopoulou, Styliani

2017-06-01

Daily intake of low-dose aspirin after 12weeks of gestation is currently recommended as a preventative intervention in pregnancies in high risk of developing preeclampsia. This recommendation is based on epidemiological evidence, whereas experimental studies investigating the exact mechanisms of aspirin action during pregnancy are lacking. We previously showed that treating pregnant rats with a synthetic mimetic of unmethylated CpG DNA (bacterial DNA) caused preeclampsia-like characteristics such as maternal hypertension and increased cyclooxygenase (COX) expression and activity. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that daily maternal treatment with low-dose aspirin would prevent the development of maternal hypertension, reduce COX activity and thromboxane A 2 (TxA 2 ) production, and improve maternal vascular function in pregnant rats exposed to CpG ODN during gestation. Pregnant rats were treated with ODN2395 (synthetic CpG DNA) or saline (vehicle) on gestational days (GD) 14, 16, 18. Daily low-dose aspirin treatment (1.5mg/kgBW) started on GD10 and continued throughout gestation. Pregnant rats treated with ODN2395 had greater systolic blood pressure compared to controls (120±4mmHg vs. 100±5mmHg, p=0.03) and aspirin did not prevent this increase (p=0.86). Aspirin prevented ODN2395-induced increases of TxB 2 (TxA 2 metabolite) in serum and mesenteric arteries. ODN2395 increased expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in mesenteric and uterine arteries and aspirin abolished these effects. Aspirin reduced contractile responses to phenylephrine and U46619 (TxA 2 mimetic) in mesenteric arteries from control rats but not from ODN2395-treated rats. In conclusion, treatment with low-dose aspirin reduced systemic and vascular COX expression and activity but did not prevent the development of maternal hypertension induced by exposure to unmethylated CpG DNA (bacterial DNA). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

76 FR 36613 - Environmental Impact Statement; Nueces County, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-22

... County, TX AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI). SUMMARY... (TxDOT) are issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will...--Texas Division, 300 East 8th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Telephone: 512-536-5960. SUPPLEMENTARY...

Analysis and Selection of a Remote Docking Simulation Visual Display System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shields, N., Jr.; Fagg, M. F.

1984-01-01

The development of a remote docking simulation visual display system is examined. Video system and operator performance are discussed as well as operator command and control requirements and a design analysis of the reconfigurable work station.

76 FR 56493 - Notice of Delays in Processing of Special Permits Applications

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-13

.... 14741-M Weatherford 4 10-31-2011 International, Fort Worth, TX. 8826-M Phoenix Air 4 10-31-2011 Group... Seattle, WA. 10656-M Conference of 4 11-30-2011 Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc., Frankfort, KY. 11406-M Conference of 4 11-30-2011 Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc., Frankfort, KY. 12629-M TEA...

Design and Integration for High Performance Robotic Systems Based on Decomposition and Hybridization Approaches

PubMed Central

Zhang, Dan; Wei, Bin

2017-01-01

Currently, the uses of robotics are limited with respect to performance capabilities. Improving the performance of robotic mechanisms is and still will be the main research topic in the next decade. In this paper, design and integration for improving performance of robotic systems are achieved through three different approaches, i.e., structure synthesis design approach, dynamic balancing approach, and adaptive control approach. The purpose of robotic mechanism structure synthesis design is to propose certain mechanism that has better kinematic and dynamic performance as compared to the old ones. For the dynamic balancing design approach, it is normally accomplished based on employing counterweights or counter-rotations. The potential issue is that more weight and inertia will be included in the system. Here, reactionless based on the reconfiguration concept is put forward, which can address the mentioned problem. With the mechanism reconfiguration, the control system needs to be adapted thereafter. One way to address control system adaptation is by applying the “divide and conquer” methodology. It entails modularizing the functionalities: breaking up the control functions into small functional modules, and from those modules assembling the control system according to the changing needs of the mechanism. PMID:28075360

Maneuvering control and configuration adaptation of a biologically inspired morphing aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulrahim, Mujahid

Natural flight as a source of inspiration for aircraft design was prominent with early aircraft but became marginalized as aircraft became larger and faster. With recent interest in small unmanned air vehicles, biological inspiration is a possible technology to enhance mission performance of aircraft that are dimensionally similar to gliding birds. Serial wing joints, loosely modeling the avian skeletal structure, are used in the current study to allow significant reconfiguration of the wing shape. The wings are reconfigured to optimize aerodynamic performance and maneuvering metrics related to specific mission tasks. Wing shapes for each mission are determined and related to the seagulls, falcons, albatrosses, and non-migratory African swallows on which the aircraft are based. Variable wing geometry changes the vehicle dynamics, affording versatility in flight behavior but also requiring appropriate compensation to maintain stability and controllability. Time-varying compensation is in the form of a baseline controller which adapts to both the variable vehicle dynamics and to the changing mission requirements. Wing shape is adapted in flight to minimize a cost function which represents energy, temporal, and spatial efficiency. An optimal control architecture unifies the control and adaptation tasks.

Updates to RDD control systems and rolling sensors.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-07-01

TxDOT Project No. 5-6005-01, Statewide Implementation of Total Pavement Acceptance Device (TPAD), was completed on August 31, 2014. This deliverable discusses the improvements made to the RDD system on the TPAD. This work was performed from January 2...

PIA installation and user guide : 2009 update.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-04-01

A significant number of TxDOTs signalized intersections operate under isolated control. : At many of these signals, it is not uncommon for an approaching platoon of vehicles to : face a red signal when it arrives at the stopbar. Often, these plato...

PCP cracking and bridge deck reinforcement : an interim report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-10-28

TxDOT Project 0-6348 Controlling Cracking in Prestressed Concrete Panels and Optimizing Bridge Deck : Reinforcing Steel started on September 1, 2008 and is scheduled to end on August 31, 2012. The project is : proceeding on schedule. This repor...

Develop a Methodology to Evaluate the Effectiveness of QC/QA Specifications (Phase II)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-08-01

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been implementing statistically based quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) specifications for hot mix asphalt concrete pavements since the early 1990s. These specifications have been continuousl...

Comparison of radiofrequency body coils for MRI at 3 Tesla: a simulation study using parallel transmission on various anatomical targets

PubMed Central

Wu, Xiaoping; Zhang, Xiaotong; Tian, Jinfeng; Schmitter, Sebastian; Hanna, Brian; Strupp, John; Pfeuffer, Josef; Hamm, Michael; Wang, Dingxin; Nistler, Juergen; He, Bin; Vaughan, J. Thomas; Ugurbil, Kamil; Van de Moortele, Pierre-Francois

2015-01-01

The performance of multichannel transmit coil layouts and parallel transmission (pTx) radiofrequency (RF) pulse design was evaluated with respect to transmit B1 (B1+) homogeneity and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) at 3 Tesla for a whole body coil. Five specific coils were modeled and compared: a 32-rung birdcage body coil (driven either in a fixed quadrature mode or a two-channel transmit mode), two single-ring stripline arrays (with either 8 or 16 elements), and two multi-ring stripline arrays (with 2 or 3 identical rings, stacked in the z-axis and each comprising eight azimuthally distributed elements). Three anatomical targets were considered, each defined by a 3D volume representative of a meaningful region of interest (ROI) in routine clinical applications. For a given anatomical target, global or local SAR controlled pTx pulses were designed to homogenize RF excitation within the ROI. At the B1+ homogeneity achieved by the quadrature driven birdcage design, pTx pulses with multichannel transmit coils achieved up to ~8 fold reduction in local and global SAR. When used for imaging head and cervical spine or imaging thoracic spine, the double-ring array outperformed all coils including the single-ring arrays. While the advantage of the double-ring array became much less pronounced for pelvic imaging with a substantially larger ROI, the pTx approach still provided significant gains over the quadrature birdcage coil. For all design scenarios, using the 3-ring array did not necessarily improve the RF performance. Our results suggest that pTx pulses with multichannel transmit coils can reduce local and global SAR substantially for body coils while attaining improved B1+ homogeneity, particularly for a “z-stacked” double-ring design with coil elements arranged on two transaxial rings. PMID:26332290

A reconfigurable all-optical VPN based on XGM effect of SOA in WDM PON

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Xiaofeng; Zhang, Liang; Cao, Pan; Wang, Tao; Su, Yikai

2010-12-01

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a reconfigurable all-optical VPN scheme enabling intercommunications among different ONUs in a WDM PON. Reconfiguration is realized by dynamically setting wavelength conversion of optical VPN signal using a SOA in the OLT.

A Course on Reconfigurable Processors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shoufan, Abdulhadi; Huss, Sorin A.

2010-01-01

Reconfigurable computing is an established field in computer science. Teaching this field to computer science students demands special attention due to limited student experience in electronics and digital system design. This article presents a compact course on reconfigurable processors, which was offered at the Technische Universitat Darmstadt,…

78 FR 52956 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-27

... community may at any time enact stricter requirements of its own, or pursuant to policies established by... City, TX 77662. City of Vidor Public Works Department, 1395 North Main Street, Vidor, TX 77662. City of West Orange City Hall, 2700 Western Avenue, West Orange, TX 77630. Unincorporated Areas of Orange...

78 FR 48294 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Mason, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-08

...-1141; Airspace Docket No. 12-ASW-12] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Mason, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at Mason, TX... Approach Procedures at Mason County Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument...

76 FR 77245 - Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Austin and Colorado Counties, TX...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-12

...-FF02R06000] Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Austin and Colorado Counties, TX..., TX 77434; phone: (979) 234-3021; fax: (979) 234-3278. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With... elements conduct research on of hog movement corridors; impacts of red depending on results of imported...

78 FR 34118 - Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Applications for Permit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-06

.... Applicant: Cord Offermann, Austin, TX; PRT-05160B The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife... Buck Zoo, Gainesville, TX; PRT-06588B The applicant requests a captive-bred wildlife registration under... period. Applicant: KHJ Property Management LLC, Del Rio, TX; PRT-93972A The applicant requests amendment...

75 FR 67806 - Environmental Impact Statement; Nueces County, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-03

... County, TX AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent (NOI) to... Street, Room 826, Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone (512) 536-5960. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 6, 2007, TxDOT and FHWA announced their revised Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS pursuant to 40 CFR 1508...

75 FR 63533 - Environmental Impact Statement: Cameron County, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-15

...: Cameron County, TX AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent..., 300 East 8th Street, Room 826, Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone (512) 536-5960. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 6, 2007, TxDOT and FHWA announced their revised Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS...

76 FR 52563 - Special Local Regulations; Sabine River, Orange, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-23

...-AA08 Special Local Regulations; Sabine River, Orange, TX AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Temporary Final rule. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary Special Local Regulation on the Sabine River within the Port Arthur, TX Captain of the Port Zone. This Special Local Regulation is intended to...

78 FR 11816 - Foreign-Trade Zone 168-Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, Authorization of Production Activity, Richemont...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-20

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B-76-2012] Foreign-Trade Zone 168--Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, Authorization of Production Activity, Richemont North America, Inc. dba Cartier (Eyewear Assembly/Kitting), Grand Prairie, TX On October 17, 2012, Metroplex International Trade Development...

76 FR 318 - Designation for the Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; and Decatur, IN Areas

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-04

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Designation for the Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; and Decatur, IN Areas AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards... Location: Bucyrus, OH. Gulf Country Dallas, TX (214-500-5212)..... 1/1/2011 12/31/2011 Northeast Indiana...

Teaming for success "TxDOT is here to help" : site selection and access for large distribution centers.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-06-18

These slides are intended to be used as a free-standing brief presentation or within larger presentations to describe and promote the advantages of involving TxDOT early in the distribution center site selection process. The purpose is to involve TxD...

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

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

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

77 FR 46282 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Sweetwater, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-03

...-0829; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASW-9] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Sweetwater, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at... Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace for the Sweetwater, TX, area...

78 FR 67296 - Establishment of Class D Airspace; Mesquite, TX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-12

...-0580; Airspace Docket No. 12-ASW-2] Establishment of Class D Airspace; Mesquite, TX AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action establishes Class D airspace... establish Class D airspace for Mesquite Metro Airport, Mesquite, TX (78 FR 48842) Docket No. FAA-2012- 0580...

Impact of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: patients’ perspectives

PubMed Central

Isla Pera, P; Moncho Vasallo, J; Guasch Andreu, O; Ricart Brulles, MJ; Torras Rabasa, A

2012-01-01

Background: Few qualitative studies of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK Tx) have been published. The aims of this study were to explore from the perspective of patients, the experience of living with diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM), suffering from complications, and undergoing SPK Tx with good outcome; and to determine the impact of SPK Tx on patients and their social and cultural environment. Methods: We performed a focused ethnographic study. Twenty patients were interviewed. Data were analyzed using content analysis and constant comparison following the method proposed by Miles and Huberman. Results: A functioning SPK Tx allowed renal replacement therapy and insulin to be discontinued. To describe their new situation, patients used words and phrases such as “miracle”, “being reborn” or “coming back to life”. Although the complications of T1DM, its surgery and treatment, and associated psychological problems did not disappear after SPK Tx, these were minimized when compared with the pretransplantation situation. Conclusion: For patients, SPK Tx represents a recovery of their health and autonomy despite remaining problems associated with the complications of T1DM and SPK Tx. The understanding of patients’ existential framework and their experience of disease are key factors for planning new intervention and improvement strategies. PMID:22936846

Solution structure for Pandinus toxin K-alpha (PiTX-K alpha), a selective blocker of A-type potassium channels.

PubMed

Tenenholz, T C; Rogowski, R S; Collins, J H; Blaustein, M P; Weber, D J

1997-03-11

PiTX-K alpha, a 35-residue peptide recently isolated from the venom of Pandinus imperator, blocks the rapidly inactivating (A-type) K+ channel(s) in rat brain synaptosomes and the cloned Kv 1.2 potassium channel at very low toxin concentrations (6 nM and 32 pM, respectively) [Rogowski, R. S., Collins, J. H., O'Neil, T. J., Gustafson, T. A., Werkman, T. A., Rogawski, M. A., Tenenholz, T. C., Weber, D. J., & Blaustein, M. P. (1996) Mol. Pharmacol. 50, 1167-1177]. The three-dimensional structure of PiTX-K alpha was determined using NMR spectroscopy in order to understand its selectivity and affinity toward K+ channels. PiTX-K alpha was found to have an alpha-helix from residues 10 to 21 and two beta-strands (betaI, 26-28; betaII, 33-35) connected by a type II beta-turn to form a small antiparallel beta-sheet. Three disulfide bonds, which are conserved in all members of the charybdotoxin family (alpha-K toxins), anchor one face of the alpha-helix to the beta-sheet. The N-terminal portion of PiTX-K alpha has three fewer residues than other alpha-K toxins such as charybdotoxin. Rather than forming a third beta-strand as found for other alpha-K toxins, the N-terminal region of PiTX-K alpha adopts an extended conformation. This structural difference in PiTX-K alpha together with differences in sequence at Pro-10, Tyr-14, and Asn-25 (versus Ser-10, Trp-14, and Arg-25 in CTX) may explain why PiTX-K alpha does not block maxi-K+ channels. Differences in three-dimensional structure between PiTX-K alpha and charybdotoxin are also observed in both the tight turn and the loop that connects the first beta-strand to the alpha-helix. As a result, side chains of two residues (Tyr-23 and Arg-31) are in regions of PiTX-K alpha that probably interact with rapidly inactivating A-type K+ channels. The analogous residues in charybdotoxin are positioned differently on the toxin surface. Thus, the locations of Tyr-23 and Arg-31 side chains in PiTX-K alpha could explain why this toxin blocks A-type channels at much lower concentrations than does charybdotoxin.

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

Simpson, L.

ITN Energy Systems, Inc., and Global Solar Energy, Inc., with the assistance of NREL's PV Manufacturing R&D program, have continued the advancement of CIGS production technology through the development of trajectory-oriented predictive/control models, fault-tolerance control, control-platform development, in-situ sensors, and process improvements. Modeling activities to date include the development of physics-based and empirical models for CIGS and sputter-deposition processing, implementation of model-based control, and application of predictive models to the construction of new evaporation sources and for control. Model-based control is enabled through implementation of reduced or empirical models into a control platform. Reliability improvement activities include implementation of preventivemore » maintenance schedules; detection of failed sensors/equipment and reconfiguration to continue processing; and systematic development of fault prevention and reconfiguration strategies for the full range of CIGS PV production deposition processes. In-situ sensor development activities have resulted in improved control and indicated the potential for enhanced process status monitoring and control of the deposition processes. Substantial process improvements have been made, including significant improvement in CIGS uniformity, thickness control, efficiency, yield, and throughput. In large measure, these gains have been driven by process optimization, which, in turn, have been enabled by control and reliability improvements due to this PV Manufacturing R&D program. This has resulted in substantial improvements of flexible CIGS PV module performance and efficiency.« less

SU-E-J-220: Evaluation of Atlas-Based Auto-Segmentation (ABAS) in Head-And-Neck Adaptive Radiotherapy

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

Liu, Q; Yan, D

2014-06-01

Purpose: Evaluate the accuracy of atlas-based auto segmentation of organs at risk (OARs) on both helical CT (HCT) and cone beam CT (CBCT) images in head and neck (HN) cancer adaptive radiotherapy (ART). Methods: Six HN patients treated in the ART process were included in this study. For each patient, three images were selected: pretreatment planning CT (PreTx-HCT), in treatment CT for replanning (InTx-HCT) and a CBCT acquired in the same day of the InTx-HCT. Three clinical procedures of auto segmentation and deformable registration performed in the ART process were evaluated: a) auto segmentation on PreTx-HCT using multi-subject atlases, b)more » intra-patient propagation of OARs from PreTx-HCT to InTx-HCT using deformable HCT-to-HCT image registration, and c) intra-patient propagation of OARs from PreTx-HCT to CBCT using deformable CBCT-to-HCT image registration. Seven OARs (brainstem, cord, L/R parotid, L/R submandibular gland and mandible) were manually contoured on PreTx-HCT and InTx-HCT for comparison. In addition, manual contours on InTx-CT were copied on the same day CBCT, and a local region rigid body registration was performed accordingly for each individual OAR. For procedures a) and b), auto contours were compared to manual contours, and for c) auto contours were compared to those rigidly transferred contours on CBCT. Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) and mean surface distances of agreement (MSDA) were calculated for evaluation. Results: For procedure a), the mean DSC/MSDA of most OARs are >80%/±2mm. For intra-patient HCT-to-HCT propagation, the Resultimproved to >85%/±1.5mm. Compared to HCT-to-HCT, the mean DSC for HCT-to-CBCT propagation drops ∼2–3% and MSDA increases ∼0.2mm. This Resultindicates that the inferior imaging quality of CBCT seems only degrade auto propagation performance slightly. Conclusion: Auto segmentation and deformable propagation can generate OAR structures on HCT and CBCT images with clinically acceptable accuracy. Therefore, they can be reliably implemented in the clinical HN ART process.« less

ProTx-II, a selective inhibitor of NaV1.7 sodium channels, blocks action potential propagation in nociceptors.

PubMed

Schmalhofer, William A; Calhoun, Jeffrey; Burrows, Rachel; Bailey, Timothy; Kohler, Martin G; Weinglass, Adam B; Kaczorowski, Gregory J; Garcia, Maria L; Koltzenburg, Martin; Priest, Birgit T

2008-11-01

Voltage-gated sodium (Na(V)1) channels play a critical role in modulating the excitability of sensory neurons, and human genetic evidence points to Na(V)1.7 as an essential contributor to pain signaling. Human loss-of-function mutations in SCN9A, the gene encoding Na(V)1.7, cause channelopathy-associated indifference to pain (CIP), whereas gain-of-function mutations are associated with two inherited painful neuropathies. Although the human genetic data make Na(V)1.7 an attractive target for the development of analgesics, pharmacological proof-of-concept in experimental pain models requires Na(V)1.7-selective channel blockers. Here, we show that the tarantula venom peptide ProTx-II selectively interacts with Na(V)1.7 channels, inhibiting Na(V)1.7 with an IC(50) value of 0.3 nM, compared with IC(50) values of 30 to 150 nM for other heterologously expressed Na(V)1 subtypes. This subtype selectivity was abolished by a point mutation in DIIS3. It is interesting that application of ProTx-II to desheathed cutaneous nerves completely blocked the C-fiber compound action potential at concentrations that had little effect on Abeta-fiber conduction. ProTx-II application had little effect on action potential propagation of the intact nerve, which may explain why ProTx-II was not efficacious in rodent models of acute and inflammatory pain. Mono-iodo-ProTx-II ((125)I-ProTx-II) binds with high affinity (K(d) = 0.3 nM) to recombinant hNa(V)1.7 channels. Binding of (125)I-ProTx-II is insensitive to the presence of other well characterized Na(V)1 channel modulators, suggesting that ProTx-II binds to a novel site, which may be more conducive to conferring subtype selectivity than the site occupied by traditional local anesthetics and anticonvulsants. Thus, the (125)I-ProTx-II binding assay, described here, offers a new tool in the search for novel Na(V)1.7-selective blockers.

Reconfigurable Patch-Slot Reflectarray Elements using RF MEMS Switches: A Subreflector Wavefront Controller

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rajagopalan, Harish; Rahmat-Samii, Yahya; Imbriale, William A.

2007-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to investigate potential reflectarray elements by taking into consideration the eventual implementation of MEMS technology for this particular application and detailed characterization of one of the potential element designs.

High-Rising Rec Centers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitney, Tim

2000-01-01

Examines how tight urban sites can yield sports spaces that favorably compare to their more rural campus counterparts. Potential areas of concern when recreation centers are reconfigured into high-rise structures are highlighted, including building codes, building access, noise control, building costs, and lighting. (GR)

Fragment C Domain of Tetanus Toxin Mitigates Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity and Its Motor Consequences in Mice

PubMed Central

Mendieta, Liliana; Granado, Noelia; Aguilera, José; Tizabi, Yousef

2016-01-01

Background: The C-terminal domain of the heavy chain of tetanus toxin (Hc-TeTx) is a nontoxic peptide with demonstrated in vitro and in vivo neuroprotective effects against striatal dopaminergic damage induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and 6-hydoxydopamine, suggesting its possible therapeutic potential in Parkinson’s disease. Methamphetamine, a widely abused psychostimulant, has selective dopaminergic neurotoxicity in rodents, monkeys, and humans. This study was undertaken to determine whether Hc-TeTx might also protect against methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity and the consequent motor impairment. Methods: For this purpose, we treated mice with a toxic regimen of methamphetamine (4mg/kg, 3 consecutive i.p. injections, 3 hours apart) followed by 3 injections of 40 ug/kg of Hc-TeTx into grastrocnemius muscle at 1, 24, and 48 hours post methamphetamine treatment. Results: We found that Hc-TeTx significantly reduced the loss of dopaminergic markers tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter and the increases in silver staining (a well stablished degeneration marker) induced by methamphetamine in the striatum. Moreover, Hc-TeTx prevented the increase of neuronal nitric oxide synthase but did not affect microglia activation induced by methamphetamine. Stereological neuronal count in the substantia nigra indicated loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons after methamphetamine that was partially prevented by Hc-TeTx. Importantly, impairment in motor behaviors post methamphetamine treatment were significantly reduced by Hc-TeTx. Conclusions: Here we demonstrate that Hc-TeTx can provide significant protection against acute methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity and motor impairment, suggesting its therapeutic potential in methamphetamine abusers. PMID:26945022

Local SAR in parallel transmission pulse design.

PubMed

Lee, Joonsung; Gebhardt, Matthias; Wald, Lawrence L; Adalsteinsson, Elfar

2012-06-01

The management of local and global power deposition in human subjects (specific absorption rate, SAR) is a fundamental constraint to the application of parallel transmission (pTx) systems. Even though the pTx and single channel have to meet the same SAR requirements, the complex behavior of the spatial distribution of local SAR for transmission arrays poses problems that are not encountered in conventional single-channel systems and places additional requirements on pTx radio frequency pulse design. We propose a pTx pulse design method which builds on recent work to capture the spatial distribution of local SAR in numerical tissue models in a compressed parameterization in order to incorporate local SAR constraints within computation times that accommodate pTx pulse design during an in vivo magnetic resonance imaging scan. Additionally, the algorithm yields a protocol-specific ultimate peak in local SAR, which is shown to bound the achievable peak local SAR for a given excitation profile fidelity. The performance of the approach was demonstrated using a numerical human head model and a 7 Tesla eight-channel transmit array. The method reduced peak local 10 g SAR by 14-66% for slice-selective pTx excitations and 2D selective pTx excitations compared to a pTx pulse design constrained only by global SAR. The primary tradeoff incurred for reducing peak local SAR was an increase in global SAR, up to 34% for the evaluated examples, which is favorable in cases where local SAR constraints dominate the pulse applications. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Inertial effects during irreversible meniscus reconfiguration in angular pores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrari, Andrea; Lunati, Ivan

2014-12-01

In porous media, the dynamics of the invading front between two immiscible fluids is often characterized by abrupt reconfigurations caused by local instabilities of the interface. As a prototype of these phenomena we consider the dynamics of a meniscus in a corner as it can be encountered in angular pores. We investigate this process in detail by means of direct numerical simulations that solve the Navier-Stokes equations in the pore space and employ the Volume of Fluid method (VOF) to track the evolution of the interface. We show that for a quasi-static displacement, the numerically calculated surface energy agrees well with the analytical solutions that we have derived for pores with circular and square cross sections. However, the spontaneous reconfigurations are irreversible and cannot be controlled by the injection rate: they are characterized by the amount of surface energy that is spontaneously released and transformed into kinetic energy. The resulting local velocities can be orders of magnitude larger than the injection velocity and they induce damped oscillations of the interface that possess their own time scales and depend only on fluid properties and pore geometry. In complex media (we consider a network of cubic pores) reconfigurations are so frequent and oscillations last long enough that increasing inertial effects leads to a different fluid distribution by influencing the selection of the next pore to be invaded. This calls into question simple pore-filling rules based only on capillary forces. Also, we demonstrate that inertial effects during irreversible reconfigurations can influence the work done by the external forces that is related to the pressure drop in Darcy's law. This suggests that these phenomena have to be considered when upscaling multiphase flow because local oscillations of the menisci affect macroscopic quantities and modify the constitutive relationships to be used in macro-scale models. These results can be extrapolated to other interface instabilities that are at the origin of fast pore-scale events, such as Haines jumps, snap-off and coalescence.

Flight Test Experiments Foreseen for USV

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-10-01

USA W.T. - Japan W .T. - Australia: ANU ( National University) W .T. - USA: NASA , AEDC, CALTEC, CUBRC W .T. - Japan: NAL 1.0E-05 1.0E-04... reflectometry ”. • Active (TX / RX) / passive (RX only) mode experiments • Main on-board elements: • RX • TX (possibly shared with system TX) • antennas

75 FR 28298 - Notice of Determinations Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-20

..., Leased Workers from Computer Merchant, LTD, Austin, TX: September 30, 2008. TA-W-72,704B: Starwood Hotels...,446: Genesis Networks Solutions, Inc., Abilene, TX: February 3, 2009. The following certifications... Finance Organization, Leased Workers of Kelly Services, Houston, TX: December 16, 2008. TA-W-73,133: CVG...

76 FR 10396 - Notice of Determinations Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

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2011-02-24

.... Perot Systems; Insurance Solutions Operations. 74,716 Dell, Inc., Dell Austin, TX October 8, 2009..., 2009. Residential Sales, and Selma, TX. Teleworkers Across Texas. 74,849F ILevel By Weyerhaeuser..., Inc.. 74,989 J. M. Smucker Company, Sherman, TX......... December 13, 2009. The Folgers Coffee Company...

76 FR 22011 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Carizzo Springs, Glass Ranch Airport, TX

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2011-04-20

...-0877; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASW-13] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Carizzo Springs, Glass Ranch... amends Class E airspace for the Carizzo Springs, Glass Ranch Airport, TX, airspace area, to accommodate... rulemaking to amend Class E airspace for the Carizzo Springs, Glass Ranch Airport, TX, airspace area...