Software issues involved in code translation of C to Ada programs

It is often thought that translation of one programming language to another is a simple solution that can be used to extend the software life span or in rehosting software to another environment. The possible problems are examined as are the advantages and disadvantages of direct machine or human code translation versus that of redesign and rewrite of the software. The translation of the expert system language called C Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS) which is written in C, to Ada, will be used as a case study of the problems that are encountered

Second CLIPS Conference Proceedings, volume 1

Topics covered at the 2nd CLIPS Conference held at the Johnson Space Center, September 23-25, 1991 are given. Topics include rule groupings, fault detection using expert systems, decision making using expert systems, knowledge representation, computer aided design and debugging expert systems

Pt-Cu catalytic coatings for hydrogen combustion: nanostructure and dealloying effects

This thesis work was carried out at Materials Science Institute of Seville, ICMS (Spain). CSIC-Univ.Seville, at the group of nanotechnology, under the supervision of the Prof. Maria Asunción Fernández. The aim of this thesis was to synthesize and characterize supported thin films of metallic nanocatalysts (Pt-Cu) supported on silicon carbide. The nanocatalysts have been produced by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique, precisely the magnetron sputtering. One of several possible techniques to check and modify the reactivity of nanocatalysts is the dealloying. The selective leaching in an acid environment was used on nanocatalysts in this thesis. The supported metal alloys produced have been chosen to test on the reaction of Catalytic Hydrogen Combustion (CHC). The work was therefore divided into two parts. In the first the synthesis of the supported metal alloy has been developed, through the use of magnetron sputtering; the second step was the use of the technique of dealloying in acidic environment; the third step was the characterization of the of produced coatings. Through spectroscopic techniques XRD, SEM and EDX. In the second part a process for the CHC reaction on supported nanocatalysts coatings has been developed; after testing the samples, the reported results were used to calculate the activation energy of the reaction CHC and the T50

The long and winding road of non steroidal antinflammatory drugs and paracetamol in cancer pain management: A critical review

The aim of this review was to assess the value of NSAIDs and paracetamol in patients with cancer pain to update a previous review performed ten years ago on this topic. The approach was analytic and based on clinical considerations, rather than on raw evidence, which often does not provide useful information in clinical practice. Both published reports from an extensive search of electronic data bases were collected from January 2001 to December 2011. A free-text search method was used including the following words and their combination: “Anti-inflammatory drugs OR paracetamol OR acetaminophen” AND/OR “cancer pain”. Any randomized-controlled trial was considered. Thirteen reports fulfitted inclusion criteria in this systematic review. Randomized trials have been performed by using different modalities of intervention. Single drugs added on opioid therapy or during opioid substitution with opioids as rescue drugs through a patient controlled analgesia, were compared with placebo or between them. Five studies regarded paracetamol. Other four studies assessed the efficacy dipyrone, ketorolac, dexketoprofen, and subcutaneous ketoprofen in cancer pain management, mainly on top of an opioid regimen. The role of paracetamol and NSAIDs in the management of cancer pain still remains controversial. The papers published in this last decade were unable to answer the main questions. There is no proof that they should be used to start the treatment and how long they should be administered when opioid treatment is added on top. While paracetamol seems to be devoid of any benefit, particularly if given at usual clinical doses which should be less than 4 g/day, ketorolac seems to provide an additive analgesic effect even in patients receiving different doses of opioids. The main indication from the analysis of these data is that NSAIDs could be given in patients receiving opioids, evaluating their benefit and weight on opioid therapy in individual patients who have a favorable response to justify a prolonged use

Skylab missions SL-1/SL-2, SL-3, and SL-4 hydrogen, and helium

Cryogenic boiling heat transfer for oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium fluids - free and forced convection boiling method