Preliminary Draft Report: State-of-the-Art Review of Integrated Systems Control in the Steel Industry

This is a preliminary draft version of the report to be issued on the "State-of-the-Art of Integrated Systems Control in the Steel Industry". The draft is incomplete and not necessarily in final form. Its purpose is to provide background material for the IIASA Conference on "Integrated Systems Control in the Steel Industry" scheduled for 30 June to 2 July, 1975. A second purpose is to motivate feedbacks concerning omissions and additions generated by respondents and Conference participants which may be incorporated into the final 'report

Distillation-Resolved Evolution of Key Combustion Properties

Many studies demonstrate successful emulation of pre-vaporized real fuel combustion through use of fuel surrogates. These surrogates may be described by a multiplicity of non-unique multicomponent formulations, each with pre-vaporized combustion behaviors that are essentially equivalent to the target real fuel and each other. However, many combustion applications employ fuel sprays, leaving some question as to the validity of pre-vaporized assumptions for these conditions. In the present work, a batch distillation model for ideal liquids is developed to predict the evolution of surrogate fuel combustion properties such as autoignition propensity (represented by an effective RON or DCN), hydrogen-carbon-oxygen atomic ratios, average molecular weight (MW), etc. Simulations reveal that, among several effectively equivalent pre-vaporized surrogates, large disparities may exist in one or more combustion properties as the fuels distill. For example, three multicomponent 95 RON gasoline surrogates show distillation-resolved RONs spanning, respectively, 91.0, 93.5 and 94.0 to 120.0, each with a sustained depression from the pre-vaporized 95 RON target over ~60-70% of the distillation curve. A jet fuel example is also considered herein. Whether or not preferential vaporization effects are attenuated by the complex combustion environments encountered in many applications remains an open question; however, present results indicate a significant potential for chemical property stratification in spray combustion environments

Robust computer-aided synthesis and optimization of linear multivariable control systems with varying plant dynamics via AUTOCON

AUTOCON is an automated computer-aided design tool for the synthesis and optimization of linear multivariable control systems based upon user-defined control parameter optimization. Violations in stability and performance requirements are computed from constraints on Single Input/Single Output (SISO) open- and closed-loop transfer function frequency responses, and from constraints on the singular-value frequency responses of Multiple Input/Multiple Output (MIMO) transfer functions, for all critical plant variations. Optimum nonlinear programming algorithms are used in the search for local constrained solutions in which violations in stability and performance are caused either to vanish or be minimized for a proper selection of the control parameters. Classical control system stability and performance design can, in this way, be combined with modern multivariable robustness methods to offer general frequency response loop-shaping via a computer-aided design tool. Complete Nichols, Nyquist, Bode, singular-value Bode magnitude and transient response plots are produced, including user-defined boundary responses. AUTOCON is used to synthesize and optimize the lateral/directional flight control system for a typical high-performance aircraft

Prognostic variables in surgery for skull base meningiomas

Journal ArticleThe authors have retrospectively analyzed selected surgical and pathological observations made among a group of 20 patients harboring recurrent cranial base meningiomas in an attempt to reveal which factors may be important in predicting tumor recurrence. This cohort was compared with a group of 34 patients with cranial base meningiomas that underwent primary resection and in whom tumor recurrence has not been demonstrated over a median follow-up period of 33 months. Features analyzed included brain, cranial nerve, carotid artery, or muscle invasion as well as tumor cellularity, nucleolar prominence, cellular pleomorphism, and percentage of cells staining positive for the Ki-67 antigen. As expected, increased cellularity and tumor necrosis were relatively more prevalent in recurrent tumors. With regard to tumor type, atypical and anaplastic tumors were more common in the group of patients with recurrent tumor compared with the primary group (p < 0.02). As expected, increased cellularity was relatively more prominent in recurrent tumors. Invasion of muscle and bone (72%) was more frequently associated with recurrent tumors, suggesting that these characteristics may be important features of recurrent skull base meningiomas

Health Care Consortia: A Mechanism for Increasing Access for the Medically Indigent

In response to poor coordination among health and social service providers, health care consortia have emerged in many areas of the United States. Consortia link multiple providers in a common structure to create comprehensive systems of care. They can he formally structured or informal combinations of providers that engage in coordination hut otherwise do not comprise an independent organization. The functions most common among all types of consortia are shared services and service coordination; however, a number of consortia also operate outreach/education programs. Consortia represent an innovative response to the need both for vertical integration—case management of all levels of care—and horizontal integration to prevent duplication among primary care providers. We outline the history of consortia in which federally-funded community health centers have participated. We also suggest an analytical framework for the various types of consortia: discuss lessons learned about building and maintaining consortia: and provide preliminary outcome data

Regulation of Membrane Targeting of the G Protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 2 by Protein Kinase A and Its Anchoring Protein AKAP79

The beta 2 adrenergic receptor (beta 2AR) undergoes desensitization by a process involving its phosphorylation by both protein kinase A (PKA) and G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). The protein kinase A-anchoring protein AKAP79 influences beta 2AR phosphorylation by complexing PKA with the receptor at the membrane. Here we show that AKAP79 also regulates the ability of GRK2 to phosphorylate agonist-occupied receptors. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells, overexpression of AKAP79 enhances agonist-induced phosphorylation of both the beta 2AR and a mutant of the receptor that cannot be phosphorylated by PKA (beta 2AR/PKA-). Mutants of AKAP79 that do not bind PKA or target to the beta 2AR markedly inhibit phosphorylation of beta 2AR/PKA-. We show that PKA directly phosphorylates GRK2 on serine 685. This modification increases Gbeta gamma subunit binding to GRK2 and thus enhances the ability of the kinase to translocate to the membrane and phosphorylate the receptor. Abrogation of the phosphorylation of serine 685 on GRK2 by mutagenesis (S685A) or by expression of a dominant negative AKAP79 mutant reduces GRK2-mediated translocation to beta 2AR and phosphorylation of agonist-occupied beta 2AR, thus reducing subsequent receptor internalization. Agonist-stimulated PKA-mediated phosphorylation of GRK2 may represent a mechanism for enhancing receptor phosphorylation and desensitization

Risk of prostate cancer after isolated high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) detected on extended core needle biopsy : a UK hospital experience.

Background High-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) is a precursor lesion to prostate cancer (CaP). UK-based studies examining the occurrence of isolated HGPIN and subsequent risk of CaP are lacking. Our aim was to assess the occurrence of HGPIN in a regional UK population and to determine whether in a retrievable cohort of such patients that had repeat extended core biopsies, there was an elevated risk of CaP. Methods A retrospective analysis of the pathology database was conducted at our institution (Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) for prostate biopsies recorded between January 2001 and December 2005 (all extended core biopsies). Those patients with isolated HGPIN on 1st set of biopsies were identified and, their clinical characteristics and pathological findings from subsequent biopsies (if any) were determined. The risk of CaP on subsequent biopsies based on presenting baseline PSA was stratified. Results Of 2,192 biopsied patients, there were 88 cases of isolated HGPIN of which 67 patients underwent one or more repeat biopsies. In this repeat-biopsy group, 28 CaP diagnoses were made. Age at first biopsy (P 20 ng/ml – 87.5%. Conclusion Based on our results, we recommend delaying the 1st repeat biopsy at low PSA range but to have a shorter interval to repeat biopsies at intermediate and higher PSA ranges

Risk factors for merchant seafarer repatriation due to injury or illness at sea

Background: Repatriation represents a serious outcome of illness or injury among seafarers at sea. The aim of this study was to describe repatriation patterns due to injury and illness in a seafarer cohort, and determine risk factors for repatriation. Materials and methods: The study analysed a telemedicine database of 3,921 seafarer injury and illness cases over a 4 year period using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: There were 61 repatriations over the study period (1.6% of cases). Most repatriations were due to illness (38; 62.3%) as opposed to injury (23; 37.7%). Back injuries and gastrointestinal illness were the most frequent causes of repatriations. Using logistic regression, nationality was identified as a significant risk factor for repatriation. Conclusions: This study emphasizes illness as a major cause of seafarer repatriation, and suggests opportunities for future studies to identify potentially modifiable risk factors

67/10/25 Brief of Attorney General of the State of New York as Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellees

New York Attorney General Amicus Curiae brief argues that police should be able to stop and question suspects whom they reasonably believe have or are planning to commit a felony