Fault detection of helicopter gearboxes using the multi-valued influence matrix method

In this paper we investigate the effectiveness of a pattern classifying fault detection system that is designed to cope with the variability of fault signatures inherent in helicopter gearboxes. For detection, the measurements are monitored on-line and flagged upon the detection of abnormalities, so that they can be attributed to a faulty or normal case. As such, the detection system is composed of two components, a quantization matrix to flag the measurements, and a multi-valued influence matrix (MVIM) that represents the behavior of measurements during normal operation and at fault instances. Both the quantization matrix and influence matrix are tuned during a training session so as to minimize the error in detection. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this detection system, it was applied to vibration measurements collected from a helicopter gearbox during normal operation and at various fault instances. The results indicate that the MVIM method provides excellent results when the full range of faults effects on the measurements are included in the training set

Eddy covariance raw data processing for CO2 and energy fluxes calculation at ICOS ecosystem stations

open18siThe eddy covariance is a powerful technique to estimate the surface-Atmosphere exchange of different scalars at the ecosystem scale. The EC method is central to the ecosystem component of the Integrated Carbon Observation System, a monitoring network for greenhouse gases across the European Continent. The data processing sequence applied to the collected raw data is complex, and multiple robust options for the different steps are often available. For Integrated Carbon Observation System and similar networks, the standardisation of methods is essential to avoid methodological biases and improve comparability of the results. We introduce here the steps of the processing chain applied to the eddy covariance data of Integrated Carbon Observation System stations for the estimation of final CO2, water and energy fluxes, including the calculation of their uncertainties. The selected methods are discussed against valid alternative options in terms of suitability and respective drawbacks and advantages. The main challenge is to warrant standardised processing for all stations in spite of the large differences in e.g. ecosystem traits and site conditions. The main achievement of the Integrated Carbon Observation System eddy covariance data processing is making CO2 and energy flux results as comparable and reliable as possible, given the current micrometeorological understanding and the generally accepted state-of-The-Art processing methodsopenSabbatini, Simone; Mammarella, Ivan; Arriga, Nicola; Fratini, Gerardo; Graf, Alexander; Hörtnagl, Lukas; Ibrom, Andreas; Longdoz, Bernard; Mauder, Matthias; Merbold, Lutz; Metzger, Stefan; Montagnani, Leonardo; Pitacco, Andrea; Rebmann, Corinna; Sedlák, Pavel; Šigut, Ladislav; Vitale, Domenico; Papale, DarioSabbatini, Simone; Mammarella, Ivan; Arriga, Nicola; Fratini, Gerardo; Graf, Alexander; Hörtnagl, Lukas; Ibrom, Andreas; Longdoz, Bernard; Mauder, Matthias; Merbold, Lutz; Metzger, Stefan; Montagnani, Leonardo; Pitacco, Andrea; Rebmann, Corinna; Sedlák, Pavel; Šigut, Ladislav; Vitale, Domenico; Papale, Dari

Multi-algorithm Swath Consistency Detection for Multibeam Echosounder Data

It is unrealistic to expect that any single algorithm for pre-filtering Multibeam Echosounder data will be able to detect all of the “noise in such data all of the time. This paper therefore presents a scheme for fusing the results of many pre-filtering sub-algorithms in order to form one, significantly more robust, meta-algorithm. This principle is illustrated on the problem of consistency detection in regions of sloping bathymetry. We show that the meta-algorithm is more robust, adapts dynamically to sub-algorithm performance, and is consistent with operator assessment of the data. The meta-algorithm is called the Multi-Algorithm Swath Consistency Detector

Insight into the Evolution of Anuran Foot Flag Displays: A Comparative Study of Color and Kinematics

Understanding how complex animal displays evolve is a major goal of evolutionary organismal biology. Here, we study this topic by comparing convergently evolved gestural displays in two unrelated species of frog (Bornean Rock Frog, Staurois parvus, and Kottigehara Dancing Frog, Micrixalus kottigeharensis). This behavior, known as a foot flag, is produced when a male ?waves\u27 his hindlimb at another male during bouts of competition for access to mates. We assess patterns of variation in the color of frog feet and the kinematics of the display itself to help pinpoint similarities and differences of the visual signal elements. We find clear species differences in the color of foot webbing, which is broadcast to receivers during specific phases of the display. Analyses of foot-trajectory duration and geometry also reveal clear species differences in display speed and shape - S. parvus generates a faster and more circular visual signal, while M. kottigeharensis generates a much slower and more elliptical one. These data are consistent with the notion that color, speed, and shape likely encode species identity. However, we also found that foot flag speed shows significant among-individual variation, particularly the phase of the display in which foot webbings are visible. This result is consistent with the idea that frogs alter temporal signal components, which may showcase individual condition, quality, or motivation. Overall, our comparative study helps elucidate the variability of foot flagging behavior in a manner that informs how we understand the design principles that underlie its function as a signal in intraspecific communication

Investigation of endothelial cell injury and dysfunction induced by air pollutant benzo-a-pyrene-1,6-quinone: implications in chemical atherogenesis

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death for men and women in the USA, and growing evidence has led to an increase in concern about the detrimental effect of airborne particulate matter (PM) on health and its relation to the development of CVD. Indeed, epidemiological studies have shown that there is a well-established association between PM and increased atherosclerosis morbidity and mortality. However, how PM induces atherosclerosis remains to be elucidated. PM is a heterogeneous mixture of incomplete combustion of organic matter and fossil fuels, which is made up of metals, aldehydes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including benzo-a-pyrene (BP), and a variety of quinones. BP is produced during incomplete combustion of organic matter such as coal, oil, garbage or other organic substances. BP-1,6-quinone (BP-1,6-Q) is derived from BP and is one of the important constituents of PM. It is generated through atmospheric transformations of BP by UV light or by the oxidation of BP via CYP450 enzymes within the cells. While endothelium has been suggested to be one of the well-known targets by air pollutants, the action of BP-1,6-Q in endothelial cells remains to be examined. We hypothesized that BP-1,6-Q could promote atherosclerosis through endothelial cell injury. The goal of this research project is to elucidate the effects and the underlying mechanism of BP-1,6-Q on endothelial injury using human EA.hy926 endothelial cells as a model system. The specific objectives of this study were; (1) to examine redox activity of BP-1,6-Q and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved, (2) to elucidate the role of cellular glutathione (GSH) in BP-1,6-Q- mediated cytotoxicity and cellular macromolecule damages, (3) to study the role of Phase II enzyme NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) in BP-1,6-Q-mediated cytotoxicity and ROS production in human EA.hy926 endothelial cells. We first examined whether BP-1,6-Q at non-toxic concentrations (0.01-1 [lowercase Greek letter mu]M) could produce ROS in EA.hy926 endothelial cells as ROS is a key mediator of signaling pathways causing oxidative stress in the development of atherosclerosis. Using lucigenin- and luminol-derived chemiluminescence and 2’7’-Dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) flow cytometry assays, we have shown that BP-1,6-Q stimulated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, BP-1,6-Q-induced ROS was inhibited by rotenone (Rot) and antimycin A (AA), denoting the involvement of mitochondrial electron transport chain (METC) in redox cycling of BP-derived quinones in ROS overproduction. We have further demonstrated that BP-1,6-Q triggered endothelial-monocyte interaction and stimulated expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). These results suggest that ROS production may partially mediate the inflammatory effect of BP-1,6-Q on endothelial inflammation. To further determine the mechanisms by which BP-1,6-Q produces ROS, we have determined the involvement of Phase II enzyme NQO1 in redox cycling of BP-1,6-Q. We have observed that inhibition of NQO1 showed a decrease in generation of BP-1,6-Q-mediated ROS, and augmentation of NQO1 resulted in a significant increase in BP-1,6-Q-induced ROS. Thus, our results reported for the first time that NQO1 plays a vital role in catalyzing redox activation of BP-1,6-Q to generate ROS in endothelial cells. In contrast, at higher concentrations (20-60 [lowercase Greek letter mu]M) BP-1,6-Q causes a significant decrease in cell viability and an increase in the necrotic type of cell death as measured by lactate dehydrogenase assay (LDH) and flow cytometric assays. We have also demonstrated that BP-1,6-Q imparts its toxicity by depleting cellular glutathione (GSH) and NQO1 resulting in cellular macromolecular damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Augmentation of cellular GSH and NQO1 showed significant protection against BP-1,6-Q-induced cell death. These results indicate that GSH and NQO1 might be first in the line of defense against BP-1,6-Q induced cytotoxicity. Interesting, our results further showed that NQO1-mediated ROS production by BP-1,6-Q is not associated with BP-1,6-Q induced cell injury suggesting that BP-1,6-Q can be toxic to endothelial cells by itself without any biotransformation to toxic metabolites. Taken together, this thesis study conducted using human EA.hy926 endothelial cells as a model system expanded our understanding of the possible involvement of mitochondria and cellular GSH and NQO1 in BP-1,6-Q mediated cytotoxicity as well its ROS production. These studies will contribute to our ability to assess the cardiovascular risk of human exposure to air pollutant to BP-1,6-Q.[This abstract has been edited to remove characters that will not display in this system. Please see the PDF for the full abstract.]]]> 2018 Endothelial cells Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons $x Physiological effect Air$x Pollution Cardiovascular system $x Diseases Atherosclerosis English http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/Shah_uncg_0154D_12524.pdf oai:libres.uncg.edu/23475 2018-09-07T13:18:05Z UNCG Assessment of entomological risk for Lyme borreliosis along a north-to-south gradient from southern Virginia into North Carolina NC DOCKS at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Teague, Jimmie Lee <![CDATA[Lyme disease (LD) has become the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the United States and the sixth Nationally Notifiable disease. Surveillance of Lyme disease from the 1992-2016 has shown a sustained documented expansion of LD moving south into the border of Virginia and North Carolina, west into West Virginia, Tennessee, northwest into North Dakota, and North into Canada. This expansion of LD seems to be associated with expansion of the disease vector Ixodes scapularis, with newly established populations in the southwestern Appalachian and Piedmont regions of Virginia. The goal of the study was to characterize the entomological risk of the spread of LD from VA into NC. To determine the distribution and infection prevalence of I. scapularis along a northeastern-to-southwestern gradient from VA to NC, tick-flagging and hunter-harvested deer tick collecting approaches were used with samples tested by the CDC for infection. Flagging was comprised of periodic sampling sessions from October 2015 to July 2017, conducted at Fairy Stone, Mayo River, Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain, Yadkin Island Park, and Lake Norman State Parks. Hunted deer processing stations Hilltop Farms (Walnut Cove, NC) and Game Butchers (Troutman, NC), were used for collecting ticks from hunter-harvested deer covering counties for the northern, central and southern North Carolina Piedmont regions. Ticks collected by flagging were suggestive of a north-to-south trend with no significant difference among the northernmost State Parks and a significant difference in abundance between the northern and southernmost State Parks. The highest number of I. scapularis ticks (0.7 per 100m) was collected from the north-most Virginia’s Fairy Stone and Hanging Rock State Parks, but no I. scapularis were collected from the southernmost Lake Norman location. Infection prevalence of ticks collected by flagging exhibited a general north-to-south declining trend. Though not statistically significant with highest infection rate approximately 25% at the north-most Fairy Stone State Park. For deer collected ticks, there was a significant north-to-south decrease in tick burden per deer, with the northern region located on the VA-NC border having the highest number of I. scapularis (6.0 per deer), followed by the central and the southern regions of NC. Infection prevalence of sampled ticks from deer are suggestive of a declining trend although not significant, with the northern region having the highest (17%), followed by the central region (11%), and no infection present in the southern region. Ixodes scapularis results collected from flagging, and hunter-harvested deer are highly suggestive of a north-to-south gradient in I. scapularis densities with Alexander and Iredell being the south-most I. scapularis positive counties. Borrelia burgdorferi infection results also suggest a north-to-south distribution, with B. burgdorferi appearing to have only made it as far south as the central counties of Yadkin and Forsyth. Entomological risk estimates for density of infected nymphs (DIN) and adults (DIA) of flagging and hunted deer also showed a north-to-south trend with Fairy Stone State Park having the highest (0.033) DIN and northern NC region having the highest (0.808) DIA. The results are consistent with first the spread of the vector followed by the pathogen

Increased Androgenic Sensitivity in the Hind Limb Muscular System Marks the Evolution of a Derived Gestural Display

Physical gestures are prominent features of many species’ multi- modal displays, yet how evolution incorporates body and leg movements into animal signaling repertoires is unclear. Andro- genic hormones modulate the production of reproductive signals and sexual motor skills in many vertebrates; therefore, one possi- bility is that selection for physical signals drives the evolution of androgenic sensitivity in select neuromotor pathways. We exam- ined this issue in the Bornean rock frog (Staurois parvus, family: Ranidae). Males court females and compete with rivals by per- forming both vocalizations and hind limb gestural signals, called “foot flags.” Foot flagging is a derived display that emerged in the ranids after vocal signaling. Here, we show that administration of testosterone (T) increases foot flagging behavior under seminatural conditions. Moreover, using quantitative PCR, we also find that adult male S. parvus maintain a unique androgenic phenotype, in which androgen receptor (AR) in the hind limb musculature is expressed at levels ∼10× greater than in two other anuran species, which do not produce foot flags (Rana pipiens and Xenopus laevis). Finally, because males of all three of these species solicit mates with calls, we accordingly detect no differences in AR expression in the vocal apparatus (larynx) among taxa. The results show that foot flagging is an androgen-dependent gestural signal, and its emergence is associated with increased androgenic sensitivity within the hind limb musculature. Selection for this novel gestural signal may therefore drive the evolution of increased AR expres- sion in key muscles that control signal production to support adap- tive motor performance

Developing ontologies in OWL: An observational study

No abstract

Affective Adaptation of Social Norms in Workplace Design

Open-plan offices are common in today's organisations. These types of workplaces require people to share a common space, where violation of (implicitly or explicitly stated) social norms can cause instances of incivility. If nothing is done to avoid these situations, bad feeling can lead to diminished productivity and cooperation, and, in the long-term, to more serious problems, such as conflict and aggression. A critical review of literature shows the effects of workplace incivility and the need for an internal reparation mechanism. Inspired by convergence of pervasive, adaptive and affective computing, we have designed and developed a self-regulatory platform for successful collective action, based on participatory adaptation and fair information practises, which we called MACS. MACS addresses the problem of incivility and aims at improving the Quality of Experience in shared workplaces. This thesis presents all studies that led to the development of MACS. Through the analysis of an online questionnaire we gathered information about incivility in shared workplaces, how people deal with those situations, and awareness about uncivil self-behaviours. We concluded the main issue while sharing a workplace is noise, and most people will try to change their own behaviour, rather than confronting the person being uncivil. MACS's avatar-based interface was developed with the purpose of heightening self-awareness and cueing the appropriate social norms, while providing a good User Experience (UX). Avatars created to people's image, rather than photos, were used, to keep MACS's tone light and relatively unintrusive, while still creating self-awareness. MACS's final version went through UX testing, where 6 people were filmed while performing tasks in MACS. The intended work-flow and user interfaces to support the smooth passage of the work-flow have been validated by the UX user testing. There is some preliminary evidence suggesting apology will elicit empathic responses in MACS. Finally, this thesis proposes guidelines for workplace design, which are founded on participatory creation and change of social norms, and ways to make sure they are enforced. In this sense, MACS can also be seen as a prototypical example of a socio-technical system being used as platform for successful collective action.Open Acces

Memory for the meaningless: How chunks help

It is a classic result in cognitive science that chess masters can recall briefly presented positions better than weaker players when these positions are meaningful, but that their superiority disappears with random positions. However, Gobet and Simon (1996a) have recently shown that there is a skill effect with random chess positions as well. The impact of this result for theories of expert memory is discussed. CHREST, a computational, chunking model of chess expertise based on EPAM (Feigenbaum & Simon, 1984) accounts for this skill difference. The model is also compared with human data from an experiment where the role of presentation time for random positions was systematically varied from 1 second to 60 seconds. Simulations show that the model captures the main features of the human data, thus adding support to the EPAM theory. They also corroborate earlier estimates that visual short-term memory may contain three or four chunks

Modern tools for improving comparability and stability of in vitro diagnostic tests

Quality assurance in the clinical laboratory is essential to guarantee appropriate interpretation of clinical tests. In that regard, internal quality control and external quality assessment have earned a well-established position. However, these tools don’t necessarily reflect the reality of patient testing due to commutability issues. We have, therefore, proven that the Empower project is a valid tool to circumvent that problem. When this project is integrated in the quality control environment, it can establish a bottom-up approach to quality assessment which facilitates collaboration between laboratories and in vitro diagnostic manufacturers. It has the potential to create reliable evidence about the intrinsic quality of assays and how this quality is sustained under field conditions. The Percentiler and Flagger are efficient tools for monitoring of the mid- to long-term stability of assays, instruments, calibrators, and reagents. In addition, they create evidence about the reasons for the observed variation (lab or manufacturer performance), and translate the effect of analytical instability on the flagging rate. Although some issues, such as population variation and stratification differences, must still be taken into account, clinical laboratories can use these tools to directly relate analytical instabilities to their effect on the patient medians and on the hypo-and hyper-flagging rates. Therefore, these tools can be applied as a stimulus for both laboratories and manufacturers to work towards improved assay stability. The Master Comparison surveys, which focus on the current standardization and comparability status of commonly used commercial assays, showed that even for “simple” clinical chemistry measurands such as enzymes and electrolytes, the standardization and harmonization status of certain assays is still a matter of concern and there is much room for improvement