Achieving Coordination Through Dynamic Construction of Open Workflows ** PLEASE SEE WUCSE-2009-14 **

Workflows, widely used on the Internet today, typically consist of a graph-like structure that defines the orchestration rules for executing a set of tasks, each of which is matched at run-rime to a corresponding service. The graph is static, specialized directories enable the discovery of services, and the wired infrastructure supports routing of results among tasks. In this paper we introduce a radically new paradigm for workflow construction and execution called open workflow. It is motivated by the growing reliance on wireless ad hoc networks in settings such as emergency response, field hospitals, and military operations. Open workflows facilitate goal-directed coordination among physically mobile agents (people and host devices) that form a transient community over an ad hoc wireless network. The quintessential feature of the open workflow paradigm is the ability to construct a custom context-specific workflow specification on the fly in response to unpredictable and evolving circumstances by exploiting the knowhow and services available within a given spatiotemporal context. This paper introduces the open workflow approach and explores the technical challenges (algorithms and architecture) associated with its first practical realization

The SARAF-LINAC Project for SARAF-PHASE 2

THPF005International audienceSNRC and CEA collaborate to the upgrade of theSARAF accelerator to 5 mA CW 40 MeV deuteron andproton beams (Phase 2). This paper presents the referencedesign of the SARAF-LINAC Project including a fourvane176 MHz RFQ, a MEBT and a superconducting linacmade of four five-meter cryomodules housing 26superconducting HWR cavities and 20 superconductingsolenoids. The first two identical cryomodules house lowbeta($\beta$opt = 0.091), 280 mm long (flange to flange), 176MHz HWR cavities, the two identical last cryomoduleshouse high-beta ($\beta$opt = 0.181), 410 mm long, 176 MHz,HWR cavities. The beam is focused with superconductingsolenoids located between cavities housing steering coils.A BPM is placed upstream each solenoid

Wettability Modification of Nanomaterials by Low-Energy Electron Flux

Controllable modification of surface free energy and related properties (wettability, hygroscopicity, agglomeration, etc.) of powders allows both understanding of fine physical mechanism acting on nanoparticle surfaces and improvement of their key characteristics in a number of nanotechnology applications. In this work, we report on the method we developed for electron-induced surface energy and modification of basic, related properties of powders of quite different physical origins such as diamond and ZnO. The applied technique has afforded gradual tuning of the surface free energy, resulting in a wide range of wettability modulation. In ZnO nanomaterial, the wettability has been strongly modified, while for the diamond particles identical electron treatment leads to a weak variation of the same property. Detailed investigation into electron-modified wettability properties has been performed by the use of capillary rise method using a few probing liquids. Basic thermodynamic approaches have been applied to calculations of components of solid–liquid interaction energy. We show that defect-free, low-energy electron treatment technique strongly varies elementary interface interactions and may be used for the development of new technology in the field of nanomaterials

Stability and Release Kinetics of an Advanced Gliclazide-Cholic Acid Formulation: The Use of Artificial-Cell Microencapsulation in Slow Release Targeted Oral Delivery of Antidiabetics

Introduction: In previous studies carried out in our laboratory, a bile acid (BA) formulation exerted a hypoglycaemic effect in a rat model of type-1 diabetes (T1D). When the antidiabetic drug gliclazide (G) was added to the bile acid, it augmented the hypoglycaemic effect. In a recent study, we designed a new formulation of gliclazide-cholic acid (G-CA), with good structural properties, excipient compatibility and exhibits pseudoplastic-thixotropic characteristics. The aim of this study is to test the slow release and pH-controlled properties of this new formulation. The aim is also to examine the effect of CA on G release kinetics at various pH values and different temperatures. Method: Microencapsulation was carried out using our Buchi-based microencapsulating system developed in our laboratory. Using sodium alginate (SA) polymer, both formulations were prepared: G-SA (control) and G-CA-SA (test) at a constant ratio (1:3:30), respectively. Microcapsules were examined for efficiency, size, release kinetics, stability and swelling studies at pH 1.5, pH 3, pH 7.4 and pH 7.8 and temperatures of 20 and 30 °C. Results: The new formulation is further optimised by the addition of CA. CA reduced microcapsule swelling of the microcapsules at pH 7.8 and pH 3 at 30 °C and pH 3 at 20 °C, and, even though microcapsule size remains similar after CA addition, percent G release was enhanced at high pH values (pH 7.4 and pH 7.8, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The new formulation exhibits colon-targeted delivery and the addition of CA prolonged G release suggesting its suitability for the sustained and targeted delivery of G and CA to the lower intestine

Optimization of Large Scale Terrain Rendering

Práce se zabýva optimalizací renderování rozsáhlých terénů. Vysvětluje základní metody a datové struktury určené pro optimalizace. Popisuje principy metod ROAM, Geometrical clipmaps, GPU Based Geometrical Clipmaps, GeoMipMapping a Chunked LOD. Jsou zde popsány implementační detaily systému pro optimalizaci scény založeném na metodě GeoMipMapping.This work is focusing on optimization of large scale terrain rendering. It explains basic methods and data structures for optimization. It describes fundamentals of methods such as ROAM, Geometrical clipmaps, GPU Based Geometrical Clipmaps, GeoMipMapping and Chunked LOD. It explains implementation details of system for terrain optimization based on GeoMipMapping method.

Simulation nd 3D Visualisation of Billiards

Tato práce ze zabývá problematikou tvorby simulátoru kulečníku. Vysvětluje základní pojmy z oblasti fyziky nutné při návrhu fyzikálního systému. Popisuje základní schéma obecného simulátoru a jeho implementace.This work deals with the problem of creating billiard simulator. It explains basic physic notions required for designing physical system. Describes basic scheme of general simulator and its implementation.

The mode of action of bile sequestrants in the GI tract: In vitro binding studies and modeling of in vivo performance.

Bile sequestrant resins are useful in the management of serum cholesterol levels, but their effectiveness is often compromised due to the large doses required which reduce compliance and give rise to side effects. The actual amount of bile salts sequestered in vivo is much less than the theoretical capacity of the resins. The reasons for this discrepancy have not been established and a better understanding of how factors common to the gastrointestinal tract affect bile salt binding may provide approaches for improving sequestrants. Results from studies investigating the effect of chloride ion, a predominant physiologic anion, on bile salt binding to cholestyramine in vitro are presented in this dissertation. Equilibrium binding results indicated that the effect of chloride ion alone does not account for the poor efficacy of sequestrants. The binding kinetics results indicated that the resins should rapidly equilibrate with bile salts in the intestine. In addition, bile salt binding has been shown to be reversible. By comparing the amount of chloride exchanged to the total amount of bile salts bound to cholestyramine it was possible to discriminate between the stoichiometric ion-exchange binding and additional non-specific adsorption. Results showed no significant differences between chloride exchange and total bile salt binding for several anions, indicating that binding is solely due to ion-exchange. Together, these experimental results suggested that sequestrants maintain binding equilibrium with bile salts and other anions during transit through the intestinal tract. Consequently, the reabsorption of bile salts in the ileum can influence the binding equilibria. As a means of gaining insight into the functioning of bile sequestrants in the GI tract and how reabsorption of bile salts affects the sequestering process, a multi-compartment mixing tank model based on human physiologic parameters was used to simulate the effect of bile sequestrants excretion of bile salts. Binding parameters were derived from the in vitro experiments. Incorporation of a reversible binding assumption into the model resulted in simulations closely matching human data. This finding supported the hypothesis that bile salt reabsorption compromises sequestrant activity. The model can also serve as a basis for screening potential sequestrants.Ph.D.PharmaceuticsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/103916/1/9034475.pdfDescription of 9034475.pdf : Restricted to UM users only

Solvent effects in cis-trans isomerization.

Of the factors that may govern the rate of a homogeneous chemical reaction in solution, probably the least understood is the part played by the solvent. The lack of a clear understanding of solvent effects on reaction rates can be readily appreciated when it is realized that kinetic interpretations in such systems involve merely as one element the difficulties generally inherent in the interpretation of any physico-chemical behaviour in the liquid state or in solutions. [...