Convoluting device for forming convolutions and the like Patent

Punch and die device for forming convolution series in thin gage metal hemisphere

Software evolution prediction using seasonal time analysis: a comparative study

Prediction models of software change requests are useful for supporting rational and timely resource allocation to the evolution process. In this paper we use a time series forecasting model to predict software maintenance and evolution requests in an open source software project (Eclipse), as an example of projects with seasonal release cycles. We build an ARIMA model based on data collected from Eclipse’s change request tracking system since the project’s start. A change request may refer to defects found in the software, but also to suggested improvements in the system under scrutiny. Our model includes the identification of seasonal patterns and tendencies, and is validated through the forecast of the change requests evolution for the next 12 months. The usage of seasonal information significantly improves the estimation ability of this model, when compared to other ARIMA models found in the literature, and does so for a much longer estimation period. Being able to accurately forecast the change requests’ evolution over a fairly long time period is an important ability for enabling adequate process control in maintenance activities, and facilitates effort estimation and timely resources allocation. The approach presented in this paper is suitable for projects with a relatively long history, as the model building process relies on historic data

Exploring the Acculturation Experiences of Cuban Refugee Doctors and their Families in Miami: A Phenomenological Study

Since 1961, the Cuban government has used its medical missions worldwide for diplomatic, ideological, financial, and humanitarian purposes (Huish, 2014; Solano, 2019). Since the collapse of the Socialist Bloc, thousands of Cuban health workers have found a means of economic subsistence and exit from the island through these missions. The U.S. Department of State (2020) declared these medical missions to be forced labor and human trafficking, a move that had multiple consequences for these professionals and their families. From 2006 to 2017, more than 9,000 Cuban health workers entered the Unites States as refugee immigrants, with many settling in South Florida (Solidarity Without Borders, 2019). These doctors and families have experienced acculturation stress and substantial change intheir cultural identifications, practices, and values. Existing research has focused on individual perspectives, leaving a significant gap in the literature on theacculturation process from a family and systemic perspective. This study, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) design, explored the lived experiences of acculturation of five Cuban refugee doctors and a member of each doctor’s family. Research themes indicated that for these immigrants, thefamily was the main motivation to undertake their migratory and acculturation process. In the midst of separations and stressful situations, participants preserved the family unit and valued the decision to immigrate. Findings suggested that these Cuban immigrants and their families have developed flexible bicultural pathways, actively integrating and discarding components of both cultures in order to facilitate integration in Miami. Based on the results, the researcher presents implications of the study for family therapists working with this population and pathways for future research

Integrating the Best of Both Worlds: Details from Mexican- Origin College Students about Their Bicultural Identities and Adjustment Experiences

What influences the successful bicultural adjustment of ethnic minority adolescentsinto the mainstream American culture? While previous research has indicated thatthe most successful adjustment process involves the forging of new identitiescombining characteristics from both the culture of origin and the new culture, thereis little exploration into the details of this process from the perspective of minoritieswho have successfully achieved bicultural adjustment. In order to determine whetherbicultural adjustment is an evident as well as a consciously valued process amongminority adolescents, we conducted in-depth written surveys with open-endedquestions of 20 Mexican-origin college students. By focusing on high-achievers asmeasured by college attendance, we aim to highlight key elements of the culturaladjustment process that lead to positive outcomes for ethnic minority adolescents.The survey results provide rich evidence in the participants’ own words about thecomplex nature and value of bicultural adjustment. These findings can informadjustment efforts of ethnic minority adolescents as well as the institutions andcommunity organizations who serve them

Neuroprotective efficacy of nimesulide against hippocampal neuronal damage following transient forebrain ischemia

Cyclooxygenase-2 is involved in the inflammatory component of the ischemic cascade, playing an important role in the delayed progression of the brain damage. The present study evaluated the pharmacological effects of the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor nimesulide on delayed neuronal death of hippocampal CA1 neurons following transient global cerebral ischemia in gerbils. Administration of therapeutically relevant doses of nimesulide (3, 6 and 12 mg/kg; i.p.) 30 min before ischemia and at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after ischemia significantly (P<0.01) reduced hippocampal neuronal damage. Treatment with a single dose of nimesulide given 30 min before ischemia also resulted in a significant increase in the number of healthy neurons in the hippocampal CA1 sector 7 days after ischemia. Of interest is the finding that nimesulide rescued CA1 pyramidal neurons from ischemic death even when treatment was delayed until 24 h after ischemia (34+/-9% protection). Neuroprotective effect of nimesulide is still evident 30 days after the ischemic episode, providing the first experimental evidence that cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors confer a long-lasting neuroprotection. Oral administration of nimesulide was also able to significantly reduce brain damage, suggesting that protective effects are independent of the route of administration. The present study confirms the ability of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors to reduce brain damage induced by cerebral ischemia and indicates that nimesulide can provide protection when administered for up to 24 h post-ischemia

Local Symmetries and Order-Disorder Transitions in Small Macroscopic Wigner Islands

The influence of local order on the disordering scenario of small Wigner islands is discussed. A first disordering step is put in evidence by the time correlation functions and is linked to individual excitations resulting in configuration transitions, which are very sensitive to the local symmetries. This is followed by two other transitions, corresponding to orthoradial and radial diffusion, for which both individual and collective excitations play a significant role. Finally, we show that, contrary to large systems, the focus that is commonly made on collective excitations for such small systems through the Lindemann criterion has to be made carefully in order to clearly identify the relative contributions in the whole disordering process.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Compensation of permanent magnet motors torque ripple by means of current supply waveshapes control determined by finite element method

A method to determine the supply current waveshapes for torque ripple compensation in permanent magnet motors without saliency and damping bars, by means of a finite element code, is presented. First, a theoretical analysis shows that current waveshapes producing constant torque can be determined. This analysis leads us to an expression for the current as a function of the motor emf and cogging torque. Several methods, based on finite element computation of the magnetic field, for computing the cogging torque and emf are proposed and compared. A special experimental bench for motor torque measurement is used to validate the theoretical results

The Relation Between Infant Construction Strategy and Language Development in Toddlers

Infants learn from interaction with physical objects in their environments. Object construction, or merging individual objects into a single structure, has been linked previously to language. Items and toys can be structured and combined with similarity to word combinations (Greenfield, 1991). Infants initially combine 2 objects and then graduate on to combine 3 pieces or more. Words are put together in comparable ways, with each word corresponding to an object, and a sentence corresponding to a single structure. The purpose of this project is to explore how construction ability in infants affects language ability in toddlers. We hypothesize that the more advanced the infant’s construction ability at 14 months, the more advanced their language ability will be at 24 months. Methods: At 14 months of age, 47 infants were given 2 sets of nesting cups to assess construction strategy while video-recorded (Greenfield, Nelson, & Saltzman, 1972). Construction strategies coded included “nothing,” (no cup combination), “pairing,” (one cup placed on or inside another cup), and “potting,” (two or more cups placed in or stacked on a third cup). Expressive and receptive language was assessed at 2 years of age using the Preschool Language Scales, 5th edition. Data was analyzed with a regression model, using Hierarchical Linear Modeling 7 (Student version). Results: Infants who combined objects scored higher on expressive language (βs 9.52-14.3, ts(44) 2.19-2.62, ps 0.01-0.03), than infants who did not combine objects at 14 months (β00=92.82). No differences were found for construction strategy and receptive language (βs 5.49-11.79, ts(44) 1.67-0.98, ps \u3e 0.102). Conclusion: The ability to combine cups at 14 months is related to higher expressive language scores. We speculate that the ability to combine toys lays a foundation for combining words into sentences, while language comprehension may originate from other mechanisms. Further studies may assess the number of objects paired successfully and the complexity of construction with success and complexity of sentence structure at different time points throughout early childhood.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1217/thumbnail.jp