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Integrating Science and Art: the Scriptospatial Visualization Interface
No full textAbstract: Advances Background Recent advances in technology and digital access have paved the way for the improved utilization and interpretation of scientific analyses of Library source materials for digital cultural heritage and humanities studies. Integrating scientific analyses with curatorial knowledge (STEM to STEAM) is a critical multidisciplinary approach for expanding the full potential of scientific techniques and technological advances. Scientists and curators have exposed hidden and previously unknown contextual information within original source materials, such as changing "subjects to citizens" on the Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence. Hyperspectral imaging provides additional data layers by capturing images of documents in distinct narrow waveband regions of the visible and non-visible spectrumfrom ultraviolet through visible to infrared. The cube of captured digital data contains a wealth of information, but requires significant interpretation to process and analyse the collected data. Scientists, scholars and students in both disciplines have been collaborating to glean new information from historical manuscripts. The Library spectral imaging program includes development of a spectral reference database and integration of data from other noninvasive analytical techniques to create a full analytical mapping of objects for nondestructive analyses of collection materials
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW Prehospital Management of Earthquake Casualties Buried Under Rubble
No full textSurgical Technique in Distal Pancreatectomy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials
No full textDespite recent improvements in surgical technique, the morbidity of distal pancreatectomy remains high, with pancreatic fistula being the most significant postoperative complication. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) dealing with surgical techniques in distal pancreatectomy was carried out to summarize up-to-date knowledge on this topic. The Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, Embase, Web of Science, and Pubmed were searched for relevant articles published from 1990 to December 2013. Ten RCTs were identified and included in the systematic review, with a total of 1286 patients being randomized (samples ranging from 41 to 450). The reviewers were in agreement for application of the eligibility criteria for study selection. It was not possible to carry out meta-analysis of these studies because of the heterogeneity of surgical techniques and approaches, such as varying methods of pancreas transection, reinforcement of the stump with seromuscular patch or pancreaticoenteric anastomosis, sealing with fibrin sealants and pancreatic stent placement. Management of the pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy is still a matter of debate. The results of this systematic review are possibly biased by methodological problems in some of the included studies. New well designed and carefully conducted RCTs must be performed to establish the optimal strategy for pancreatic remnant management after distal pancreatectomy
SANDIA REPORT SAND2006-xxxx Unlimited Release Final LDRD Report Human Interaction with Complex Systems: Advances in Hybrid Reachability and Control NOTICE: Final LDRD Report Human Interaction with Complex Systems: Advances in Hybrid Reachability and Contr
No full textAbstract This document describes new advances in hybrid reachability techniques accomplished during the course of a one-year Truman Postdoctoral Fellowship. These techniques provide guarantees of safety in complex systems, which is especially important in high-risk, expensive, or safety-critical systems. My work focused on new approaches to two specific problems motivated by real-world issues in complex systems: 1) multi-objecitve controller synthesis, and 2) control for recovery from error. Regarding the first problem, a novel application of reachability analysis allowed controller synthesis in a single step to achieve a) safety, b) stability, and c) prevent input saturation. By extending the state to include the input parameters, constraints for stability, saturation, and envelope protection are incorporated into a single reachability analysis. Regarding the second problem, a new approach to the problem of recovery provides a) states from which recovery is possible, and b) controllers to guide the system during a recovery maneuver from an error state to a safe state in minimal time. Results are computed in both problems on nonlinear models of single longitudinal aircraft dynamics and two-aircraft lateral collision avoidance dynamics. 3 5560
Bi/multilingual voices and audiences? Code-switching in Zimbabwean popular drama, Studio 263 Collen Sabao2 (Corresponding author)
No full textAbstract Code-switching is an observed common discourse linguistic behaviour in Zimbabwean popular dramas. The motives and effects of the use of code-switching in such communicative contexts is however an understudied area. This article examines the communicative impact/effects on the audience, of code-switching as a communication strategy in Studio 263, one of Zimbabwe's popular dramas (soap operas). Observing that code-switching has become part and parcel of Zimbabwean everyday discourses -a situation chiefly resulting from the Zimbabwean linguistic situation characterised by bi/multilingual societies -the analysis explores the rhetorical and communicative potential of code-switching as a communication strategy within the communicative contexts that popular dramas represent and in a bi/multilingual society. The Zimbabwean language situation promotes the use of the English language in all formal communicative events while the 'indigenous' languages (Shona and Ndebele) do not enjoy similar privileges. Because English is a second language to the majority of the residents of Zimbabweans, this has resulted in the proliferation of bi/multilingual communities. This article critiques the justification of the use of code switching in Studio 263 as well as its use as a tool for communicating to a 'larger' audience
2 An Agile Architecture Framework that Leverages the Strengths of Business Intelligence, Decision Management and Service Orientation
No full textAssociations of Polymorphisms in the Apolipoprotein APOA1-C3-A5 Gene Cluster with Acute Coronary Syndrome
No full textBackground. Acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) are clinically cardiovascular events associated with dyslipidemia in common. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in the APOA1/C3/A5 gene cluster are associated with diabetes and familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCH). Little is known about whether the polymorphisms in these genes affect lipid homeostasis in patients with ACSs. The present paper aimed to examine these associations with 4 SNPs in the APOA1 −75G > A, the APOC3 −455T > C, and APOA5 −1131T > C, c.553G > T variant to ACSs in Chinese Han. Methods. Chinese Han of 229 patients with ACSs and 254 unrelated controls were analyzed. Four SNPs in APOA1/C3/A5 cluster were genotyped and lipid was determined. Results. Our data show that minor allelic frequencies of APOC3 −455T > C, APOA5 −1131T > C, and c.553G > T polymorphisms in patients with ACSs were significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the 3 polymorphic sites were strongly of linkage disequilibrium, and minor alleles of 3 SNP sites had higher TG level than wild alleles (P < 0.05), APOC3 −455C and APOA5 c.553T allele carriers also had lower level of HDL-C. Conclusions. The minor alleles of APOC3 −455T > C, APOA5 −1131T > C, and c.553G > T polymorphisms are closely associated with ACSs
Development of a 3D Filling Model of Low-Pressure Die-Cast Aluminum Alloy Wheels
No full textExtended Abstract Today, the need of high quality cast components for automotive and aeronautics industries leads to develop the lowpressure casting process This work proposes a characterization of the imposed gas pressure -metal flow velocity relationship in low pressure casting. More precisely, the relative effect of local and global horizontal section changes on filling flow is studied. To do so, experimentally measured and numerically predicted metal front position evolutions are compared in the case of different mould geometries. An AlSi 13 alloy is melt and poured by low pressure casting in 3D printed sand moulds. A 25mbar/s pressure ramp is set for filling. Three different geometries are studied with an identical global horizontal section restriction of 0.24: one cylinder, six cylinders and one ring. To track the experimental metal height evolution, electrical contacts are used. Experimental metal height versus time curves are extracted and reveal an oscillating phenomenon after section changing. Due to this phenomenon, an over-height which is not predicted by the analytical equations is observed. The velocity of the flow reaches values above 0.5m/s, leading to risks of defects. The experimental cases are then simulated using ANSYS Fluent® simulation software. A k-epsilon flow model simulates the whole low pressure systemthe metal in the mould, in the tube and in the furnace and the pressuring gas-. The observed filling oscillations are compared to the oscillations predicted by the model in terms of maximal overweight and velocity for the three studied geometries. A relationship between local and global horizontal section restriction factor and oscillations is proposed. It will allow us to define reliable rules of mould design for limiting turbulence and reaching sound quality in low pressure casting
Random k-gd-sat Model and its Phase Transition
No full textAbstract: We present a new type of sat problem called the k-gd-sat, which generalizes k-sat and gd-sat. In k-gd-sat, clause lengths have geometric distribution, controlled by a probability parameter p; for p = 1, a k-gd-sat problem is a k-sat problem. We report on the phase transition between satisfiability and unsatisfiability for randomly generated instances of k-gd-sat. We provide theoretical analysis and experimental results suggesting that there is an intriguing relationship (linear in the parameter 1/p) between crossover points for different parameters of k-gd-sat. We also consider a relationship between crossover points for k-sat and k-gd-sat and provide links between these values
Epidemiology of Pregnancy Losses and Practical Strategies for Prevention
No full textAbstract Pregnancy losses from fertilization to term are extensive in lactating dairy cattle. In many cases, they are underestimated because of the inability to determine conception early after insemination. For most producers, pregnancy losses are only quantified after the initial diagnosis is performed at approximately 30 to 45 d of gestation. Recent studies that provided reliable assessments of fertilization have led to the conclusion that more than 60% of all pregnancies are lost before term in lactating dairy cows. The critical period is from fertilization until the end of the differentiation phase (embryonic period) in which approximately 85% of those losses occur. Therefore, strategies to prevent embryonic losses should result in the greatest improvement in reproductive performance. Nevertheless, although fetal losses are minor (approximately 15%) compared with embryonic losses, those are more costly than embryonic losses; therefore they cannot be overlooked. Known risk factors for pregnancy loss include prolonged periods of follicular dominance, low progesterone concentration during ovulatory follicle development, heat stress, postpartum diseases and disorders such as dystocia, metritis, endometritis, mastitis, fever, ketosis, lameness, and digestive problems, negative energy balance, excessive body weight loss, toxins found in feedstuffs such as gossypol, mycotoxins, and ergot alkaloids, and infectious agents such as Neospora caninum, Leptospira spp., Campilobacter spp., BVD virus, and IBR virus among others. Strategies that prevent or control known risk factors should help decrease pregnancy loss and improve reproductive performance