BdbServer++: A User Driven Data Location and Retrieval Tool

The adoption of Grid technology has the potential to greatly aid the BaBar experiment. BdbServer was originally designed to extract copies of data from the Objectivity/DB database at SLAC and IN2P3. With data now stored in multiple locations in a variety of data formats, we are enhancing this tool. This will enable users to extract selected deep copies of event collections and ship them to the requested site using the facilities offered by the existing Grid infrastructure. By building on the work done by various groups in BaBar, and the European DataGrid, we have successfully expanded the capabilities of the BdbServer software. This should provide a framework for future work in data distribution.Comment: Paper based on the poster from the 2003 Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP03), La Jolla, Ca, USA, March 2003, 4 pages, LaTeX, 0 figures. PSN TUCP01

Passive fetal monitoring sensor

An ambulatory, passive sensor for use in a fetal monitoring system is discussed. The invention is comprised of a piezoelectric polymer film, combined with a metallic mounting plate fastened to a belt, and electrically connected to a signal processing unit by means of a shielded cable. The purpose of the sensor is to receive pressure pulses emitted by a fetus inside an expectant mother. Additionally, the monitor will filter out pressure pulses arising from other sources, such as the maternal heart

Comparative study of design: application to Engineering Design

A recent exploratory study examines design processes across domains and compares them. This is achieved through a series of interdisciplinary, participative workshops. A systematic framework is used to collect data from expert witnesses who are practising designers across domains from engineering through architecture to product design and fashion, including film production, pharmaceutical drugs, food, packaging, graphics and multimedia and software. Similarities and differences across domains are described which indicate the types of comparative analysis we have been able to do from our data. The paper goes further and speculates on possible lessons for selected areas of engineering design which can be drawn from comparison with processes in other domains. As such this comparative design study offers the potential for improving engineering design processes. More generally it is a first step in creating a discipline of comparative design which aims to provide a new rich picture of design processes

Macro Implications of a Complete Transformation of U.S. Agricultural Production to Organic Farming Practices

A national interregional linear programming model of U.S. agriculture is used to evaluate and compare two conventional and three organic production alternatives. The objective is to estimate the effects on production, supply prices, land use, farm income, and export potential, of a complete transformation of U.S. agriculture to organic practices. Crop yields and production costs are estimated for 150 producing regions for seven crops under both conventional and organic methods. Results indicate that compared to conventional methods, widespread organic farming leads to a decrease in total production, lower export potential, higher supply prices, higher value of production, lower costs of production, and higher net farm income. U.S. domestic crop demand can be met with organic methods, but would be more expensive. Some interregional shifts in crop production would also occur

Differentiating Defects in Red Oak Lumber by Discriminant Analysis Using Color, Shape, and Density

Defect color, shape, and density measures aid in the differentiation of knots, bark pockets, stain/mineral streak, and clearwood in red oak, (Quercus rubra). Various color, shape, and density measures were extracted for defects present in color and X-ray images captured using a color line scan camera and an X-ray line scan detector. Analysis of variance was used to determine which color, shape, and density measures differed between defects. Discriminant classifiers were used to test which defect measures best discriminated between different defects in lumber.The ANOVA method of model measure selection was unable to provide a direct method of selecting the optimum combination of measures; however, it did provide insight as to which measure should be selected in cases of confusion between defects. No single sensor measure provided overall classification accuracy greater than 70%, indicating the need for multisensor and multimeasure information for defect classification. When used alone, color measures resulted in the highest overall defect classification accuracy (between 69 and 70%). Shape and density measures resulted in the lowest overall classification accuracy (between 32 and 53%); however, when used in combination with other measures, they contributed to a 5-10% increase in defect classification accuracy. It was determined that defect classification required multisensor information to obtain the highest accuracy. For classifying defects in red oak, sensor measures should include two color mean values and two standard deviation values, a shape measure, and a X-ray standard deviation value