A Computer Program for Simplifying Incompletely Specified Sequential Machines Using the Paull and Unger Technique

This report presents a description of a computer program mechanized to perform the Paull and Unger process of simplifying incompletely specified sequential machines. An understanding of the process, as given in Ref. 3, is a prerequisite to the use of the techniques presented in this report. This process has specific application in the design of asynchronous digital machines and was used in the design of operational support equipment for the Mariner 1966 central computer and sequencer. A typical sequential machine design problem is presented to show where the Paull and Unger process has application. A description of the Paull and Unger process together with a description of the computer algorithms used to develop the program mechanization are presented. Several examples are used to clarify the Paull and Unger process and the computer algorithms. Program flow diagrams, program listings, and a program user operating procedures are included as appendixes

Inverter ratio failure detector

A failure detector which detects the failure of a dc to ac inverter is disclosed. The inverter under failureless conditions is characterized by a known linear relationship of its input and output voltages and by a known linear relationship of its input and output currents. The detector includes circuitry which is responsive to the detector's input and output voltages and which provides a failure-indicating signal only when the monitored output voltage is less by a selected factor, than the expected output voltage for the monitored input voltage, based on the known voltages' relationship. Similarly, the detector includes circuitry which is responsive to the input and output currents and provides a failure-indicating signal only when the input current exceeds by a selected factor the expected input current for the monitored output current based on the known currents' relationship

Study of high voltage solar array configurations with integrated power control electronics

Solar array electrical configurations for voltage regulatio

The bacteriology of sheep periodontitis with special reference to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

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Epidemiologic evaluation of Nhanes for environmental Factors and periodontal disease.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation that destroys periodontal tissues caused by the accumulation of bacterial biofilms that can be affected by environmental factors. This report describes an association study to evaluate the relationship of environmental factors to the expression of periodontitis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) from 1999-2004. A wide range of environmental variables (156) were assessed in patients categorized for periodontitis (n = 8884). Multiple statistical approaches were used to explore this dataset and identify environmental variable patterns that enhanced or lowered the prevalence of periodontitis. Our findings indicate an array of environmental variables were different in periodontitis in smokers, former smokers, or non-smokers, with a subset of specific environmental variables identified in each population subset. Discriminating environmental factors included blood levels of lead, phthalates, selected nutrients, and PCBs. Importantly, these factors were found to be coupled with more classical risk factors (i.e. age, gender, race/ethnicity) to create a model that indicated an increased disease prevalence of 2-4 fold across the sample population. Targeted environmental factors are statistically associated with the prevalence of periodontitis. Existing evidence suggests that these may contribute to altered gene expression and biologic processes that enhance inflammatory tissue destruction

The development of the Meaning in Life Index (MILI) and its relationship with personality and religious behaviours and beliefs among UK undergraduate students

The scales available for assessing meaning in life appear to be confounded with several related constructs, including purpose in life, satisfaction with life, and goal-directed behaviour. The Meaning in Life Index (MILI), a new instrument devised as a specific measure of meaning in life, was developed from responses to a pool of 22 items rated by a sample of 501 undergraduate students in Wales. The nine-item scale demonstrated sufficient face validity, internal consistency, and scale reliability to commend the instrument for future use. With respect to personality, the MILI scores were most strongly predicted by neuroticism (negatively), and less strongly by extraversion (positively) and psychoticism (negatively). With respect to several religious behavioural variables, those who attended church at least weekly returned significantly higher MILI scores than those who attended church less frequently. Intrinsic religiosity was the only orientation to be significantly associated with the MILI scale scores, although the magnitude of the association was smaller than anticipated. These results suggest that meaning in life is associated more strongly with individual differences in personality than with specific religious behaviours and attitudes. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of individual's personal values and attitudes that might underlie their experience of a meaning in life

Power conditioning equipment for the thermoelectric outer planet spacecraft Quarterly technical report, 17 Apr. - 30 Jun. 1969

Design and development of power conditioning electronics for unmanned spacecraf

Salivary and Serum Adiponectin and C-Reactive Protein Levels in Acute Myocardial Infarction Related to Body Mass Index and Oral Health

Background and Objective Adiponectin is produced by adipose cells and is considered an anti‐inflammatory molecule. In contrast, C‐reactive protein (CRP) has been identified as a hallmark of systemic inflammation and used as a risk marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Of interest was the relationship of these two biomarkers to oral health and CVD risk. Material and Methods This investigation examined these two molecules in serum and unstimulated whole saliva of patients within 48 h of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to control subjects. We hypothesized a differential response in these biomolecules resulting from the heart attack that would be affected by both the body mass index and oral health characteristics of the individuals. Results Significantly lower adiponectin levels were observed in the serum of patients with AMI. Serum adiponectin in both groups and salivary adiponectin in patients with AMI decreased with increasing body mass index. Oral health was significantly worse in patients with AMI, and both serum and salivary adiponectin were elevated with better oral health in control subjects. Serum CRP levels were increased in patients with AMI regardless of their oral health, and both serum and salivary CRP were significantly elevated in S‐T wave elevated patients with MI. Conclusions These initial data provide evidence relating obesity and oral health to salivary and serum analyte levels that occur in association with cardiac events. Relationships have been described between CVD risk and periodontal disease. Additionally, various systemic inflammatory biomarkers appear to reflect both the CVD risk and the extent/severity of periodontitis. Our findings indicated that oral health and obesity contribute to altering levels of these salivary and serum analytes in association with cardiac events. The potential that serum and/or salivary biomarkers could aid in evaluating CVD risk requires knowledge regarding how the oral health of the individual would impact the effectiveness of these biological measures

The effects of periodontal therapy on serum antibody (IgG) levels to plaque microorganisms *

The influence of periodontal therapy on serum antibody titers to selected periodontal disease-associated microorganisms was assessed in 23 patients having chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD), The immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were dÉtÉrmined by the micro ELISA technique in serum samples obtained prior to treatment; following a hygienic phase which included scaling, root planing, and oral hygiene instruction; following surgical treatment; and one year and two years following hygienic phase (maintenance phase). Considerable individual variability existed in the magnitude of immune response to specific bacterial preparations. Significant reductions in the mean antibody titers were seen to A. viscosus. S. sanguis. F. nucleatum, S, spuligena, B. gingivalis. B. interme-dius. B. melaninogeniem, T. vincentii , and T denticola by the end of the second year of maintenance. There was no consistent response to Capnucytophaga. When individual patient responses were examined. 6 of the 23 were found to have elevated titers to at least one of the microorganisms in the interval between pretreatment and the end of the hygienic phase; however, in all but one case, the titers at the end of the second year of maintenance were below pretreatment levels. Antibody levels to bacteria such as S. sanguis were modified during therapy. This would indicate that immune responses to microbes not generally considered to be “periodontal pathogens” may be modified by adjuvant activity associated with subgingival plaque or changes in the environment of the sulcus and that subsequent changes in titer do not necessarily reflect a role of that microorganism in the disease process.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75110/1/j.1600-051X.1988.tb02127.x.pd