An Easy Laboratory Method for Optimizing the Parameters for the Mechanical Densification Process: An Evaluation with an Extruder

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 8 (2006): An Easy Laboratory Method for Optimizing the Parameters for the Mechanical Densification Process: An Evaluation with an Extruder. Manuscript PM 06 015. Vol. VIII. July, 2006

Temperature distribution profiles inside biomass under dielectric breakdown conditions

Paper presented to the 10th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Florida, 14-16 July 2014.Under the effect of a sufficiently strong electric field, all materials suffer from a form of breakdown, which involves the flow of current through them. Although wood is sometimes utilized as an electrical insulator, it is also subject to breakdown when exposed to high electric fields. In general, dielectric breakdown is considered a negative effect for electrically insulating materials since it implies the loss of insulating properties of the material. However, the high temperatures generated inside the material can be used as an efficient way to induce the thermo-chemical decomposition of biomass with the purpose of sustainable energy generation. A mathematical model of the dynamics of temperature and electric field inside a small piece of biomass is developed to study temperature distribution and thermal instability growth under thermal dielectric breakdown conditions. A two-dimensional model is implemented for different electric field strengths with biomass dielectric properties obtained from the literature. Temperature, current and electric potential distributions have been analyzed and reported for several cases. The temperature development over time has also been analyzed and reported. The results show that higher voltages lead to almost instantaneous thermal breakdown. Similar results are obtained for AC voltage when the frequency is decreased. These conditions are desired for efficient gasification of biomass.dc201

Characterization of Structures of Equivalent Tissue With a Pixel Detector

Research using hybrid pixel detectors in medical physics is on the rise. Timepix detectors have arrays of 256 × 256 pixels with a resolution of 55 μm. Here, and by using Timepix counts instead of Hounsfield units, we present a calibration curve of a Timepix detector analog to those used for CT calibration. Experimentation consisted of the characterization of electron density in 10 different kinds of tissue equivalent samples from a CIRS 062M phantom (lung, 3 kinds of bones, fat, breast, muscle, water and air). Radiation of the detector was performed using an orthodontic X-ray machine at 70 KeV and .06 second of tube current with a purpose-built aluminum collimator. Data acquisition was performed at 1 frame per second and taking 3 frames per phantom. We were able to find a curve whose behavior was similar to others already published. This will lead to the verification of the usage of Timepix for identification of different tissues in an organ

A memetic algorithm based on Artificial Bee Colony for optimal synthesis of mechanisms

En este documento se presenta una propuesta novedosa de un algoritmo híbrido modular, como herramienta para resolver problemas de ingeniería del mundo real. Se implementa y aplica un algoritmo memético, MemMABC, para la solución de dos casos de diseño de mecanismos, con el fin de evaluar su eficiencia y rendimiento. El algoritmo propuesto es simple y flexible debido a su modularidad; estas características lo vuelven altamente reutilizable para ser aplicado en una amplia gama de problemas de optimización. Las soluciones de los casos de estudio también son modulares, siguiendo un esquema de programación estructurada que incluye el uso de variables globales para la configuración, y de subrutinas para la función objetivo y el manejo de las restricciones. Los algoritmos meméticos son una buena opción para resolver problemas duros de optimización, debido a la sinergia derivada de la combinación de sus componentes: una metaheurística poblacional para búsqueda global y un método de refinamiento local. La calidad en los resultados de las simulaciones sugiere que el MemMABC puede aplicarse con éxito para la solución de problemas duros de diseño en ingeniería.In this paper a novel proposal of a modular hybrid algorithm as a tool for solving real-world engineering problems is presented. A memetic algorithm, MemMABC, is implemented with this approach and applied to solve two case studies of mechanism design, in order to evaluate its efficiency and performance. Because of its modularity, the proposed algorithm is simple and flexible; these features make it quite reusable to be applied on different optimization problems, with a wide scope. The solutions of the optimization problems are also modular, following a scheme of structured programming that includes the use of global variables for configuration, and subroutines for the objective function and the restrictions. Memetic algorithms are a good option to solve hard optimization problems, because of the synergy derived from the combination of their components: a global search population-based metaheuristic and a local refinement method. The quality of simulation results suggests that MemMABC can be successfully applied to solve hard problems in engineering design.Peer Reviewe

Interplay between HIV/AIDS Epidemics and Demographic Structures Based on Sexual Contact Networks

In this article, we propose a network spread model for HIV epidemics, wherein each individual is represented by a node of the transmission network and the edges are the connections between individuals along which the infection may spread. The sexual activity of each individual, measured by its degree, is not homogeneous but obeys a power-law distribution. Due to the heterogeneity of activity, the infection can persistently exist at a very low prevalence, which has been observed in real data but can not be illuminated by previous models with homogeneous mixing hypothesis. Furthermore, the model displays a clear picture of hierarchical spread: In the early stage the infection is adhered to these high-risk persons, and then, diffuses toward low-risk population. The prediction results show that the development of epidemics can be roughly categorized into three patterns for different countries, and the pattern of a given country is mainly determined by the average sex-activity and transmission probability per sexual partner. In most cases, the effect of HIV epidemics on demographic structure is very small. However, for some extremely countries, like Botswana, the number of sex-active people can be depressed to nearly a half by AIDS.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figure

Target Selection for the SDSS-IV APOGEE-2 Survey

APOGEE-2 is a high-resolution, near-infrared spectroscopic survey observing roughly 300,000 stars across the entire sky. It is the successor to APOGEE and is part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV). APOGEE-2 is expanding upon APOGEE's goals of addressing critical questions of stellar astrophysics, stellar populations, and Galactic chemodynamical evolution using (1) an enhanced set of target types and (2) a second spectrograph at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. APOGEE-2 is targeting red giant branch (RGB) and red clump (RC) stars, RR Lyrae, low-mass dwarf stars, young stellar objects, and numerous other Milky Way and Local Group sources across the entire sky from both hemispheres. In this paper, we describe the APOGEE-2 observational design, target selection catalogs and algorithms, and the targeting-related documentation included in the SDSS data releases.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures. Accepted to A

Evaluation of AllergiSense smartphone tools for adrenaline injection training

© 2015 IEEE. Anaphylaxis is an increasingly prevalent life-threatening allergic condition that requires people with anaphylaxis and their caregivers to be trained in the avoidance of allergen triggers and in the administration of adrenaline auto-injectors. The prompt and correct administration of auto-injectors in the event of an anaphylactic reaction is a significant challenge in the management of anaphylaxis. Unfortunately, many people do not know how to use auto-injectors and either fail to use them or fail to use them correctly. This is due in part to deficiencies in training and also to the lack of a system encouraging continuous practice with feedback. Assistive smartphone healthcare technologies have demonstrated potential to support the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but there have been deficiencies in their evaluation and there has been a lack of application to anaphylaxis. This paper describes AllergiSense, a smartphone app and sensing system for anaphylaxis management, and presents the results of a randomized, controlled, pre-post evaluation of AllergiSense injection training and feedback tools with healthy participants. Participants whose training was supplemented with AllergiSense injection feedback achieved significantly better practiced injections with 90.5% performing correct injections compared to only 28.6% in the paper-only control group. In addition, the results provide insights into possible self-efficacy failings in traditional training and the benefits of embedding self-efficacy theory into the technology design process

FET proteins TAF15 and EWS are selective markers that distinguish FTLD with FUS pathology from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS mutations

Accumulation of the DNA/RNA binding protein fused in sarcoma as cytoplasmic inclusions in neurons and glial cells is the pathological hallmark of all patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with mutations in FUS as well as in several subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, which are not associated with FUS mutations. The mechanisms leading to inclusion formation and fused in sarcoma-associated neurodegeneration are only poorly understood. Because fused in sarcoma belongs to a family of proteins known as FET, which also includes Ewing's sarcoma and TATA-binding protein-associated factor 15, we investigated the potential involvement of these other FET protein family members in the pathogenesis of fused in sarcoma proteinopathies. Immunohistochemical analysis of FET proteins revealed a striking difference among the various conditions, with pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS mutations being labelled exclusively for fused in sarcoma, whereas fused in sarcoma-positive inclusions in subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration also consistently immunostained for TATA-binding protein-associated factor 15 and variably for Ewing's sarcoma. Immunoblot analysis of proteins extracted from post-mortem tissue of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with fused in sarcoma pathology demonstrated a relative shift of all FET proteins towards insoluble protein fractions, while genetic analysis of the TATA-binding protein-associated factor 15 and Ewing's sarcoma gene did not identify any pathogenic variants. Cell culture experiments replicated the findings of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS mutations by confirming the absence of TATA-binding protein-associated factor 15 and Ewing's sarcoma alterations upon expression of mutant fused in sarcoma. In contrast, all endogenous FET proteins were recruited into cytoplasmic stress granules upon general inhibition of Transportin-mediated nuclear import, mimicking the findings in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with fused in sarcoma pathology. These results allow a separation of fused in sarcoma proteinopathies caused by FUS mutations from those without a known genetic cause based on neuropathological features. More importantly, our data imply different pathological processes underlying inclusion formation and cell death between both conditions; the pathogenesis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS mutations appears to be more restricted to dysfunction of fused in sarcoma, while a more global and complex dysregulation of all FET proteins is involved in the subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with fused in sarcoma patholog