Performance of a Pier Consisting of Three Sections

A deteriorated 600 ft. long pier in Quincy, Massachusetts consisting of timber pile supported relieving platform and anchored steel sheet pile bulkhead sections was replaced with a new pier. The majority of the new pier consists of a deadman anchored steel sheet pile bulkhead. Due to the proximity of adjacent structures and another existing pier, two areas along the new pier could not accommodate an anchored bulkhead system. In these two areas, relieving platform and double steel sheet pile wall systems were constructed. Inclinometer data showing horizontal movements in the sheeting during the construction and post-construction periods are presented

Feasibility of Impact-Acoustic Emissions for Detection of Damaged Wheat Kernels

Cataloged from PDF version of article.A non-destructive, real time device was developed to detect insect damage, sprout damage, and scab damage in kernels of wheat. Kernels are impacted onto a steel plate and the resulting acoustic signal analyzed to detect damage. The acoustic signal was processed using four different methods: modeling of the signal in the time-domain, computing time-domain signal variances and maximums in short-time windows, analysis of the frequency spectrum magnitudes, and analysis of a derivative spectrum. Features were used as inputs to a stepwise discriminant analysis routine, which selected a small subset of features for accurate classification using a neural network. For a network presented with only insect damaged kernels (IDK) with exit holes and undamaged kernels, 87% of the former and 98% of the latter were correctly classified. It was also possible to distinguish undamaged, IDK, sprout-damaged, and scab-damaged kernels. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Algebraic error analysis of collinear feature points for camera parameter estimation

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In general, feature points and camera parameters can only be estimated with limited accuracy due to noisy images. In case of collinear feature points, it is possible to benefit from this geometrical regularity by correcting the feature points to lie on the supporting estimated straight line, yielding increased accuracy of the estimated camera parameters. However, regarding Maximum-Likelihood (ML) estimation, this procedure is incomplete and suboptimal. An optimal solution must also determine the error covariance of corrected features. In this paper, a complete theoretical covariance propagation analysis starting from the error of the feature points up to the error of the estimated camera parameters is performed. Additionally, corresponding Fisher Information Matrices are determined and fundamental relationships between the number and distance of collinear points and corresponding error variances are revealed algebraically. To demonstrate the impact of collinearity, experiments are conducted with covariance propagation analyses, showing significant reduction of the error variances of the estimated parameters. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Architecting in global software engineering

Cataloged from PDF version of article.This paper summarizes the results of the First Workshop on Architecting in Global Software Engineering (GSE), which was organized in conjunction with the 6th International Conference on Global Software Engineering (ICGSE 2011). The workshop aimed to bring together researchers and practitioners for defining and advancing the state-of-the-art and state-of-the practice in architecture design of global software development systems

Multiple cut-off grade optimization by genetic algorithms and comparison with grid search method and dynamic programming

Optimization of cut-off grades is a fundamental issue for mineral deposits. Determination of optimum cut-off grades, instead of application of a static cut-off grade for the life of a mine, maximizes the net present value. The authors describe the general problem of cut-off grade optimization for multi-mineral deposits and outline the use of genetic algorithms, the grid search method, and dynamic programming for optimal cut-off grade schedules for deposits with up to three constituent minerals. The methods are compared by assessing the results of the implications involved in using them.E. Cetin and P.A. Dow

VP36.15: Evaluation of uterine artery pulsatility index and 17β estradiol serum concentration in first trimester pregnancies with oocyte donation

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Investigation of AlInN HEMT structures with different AlGaN buffer layers grown on sapphire substrates by MOCVD

Cataloged from PDF version of article.We investigate the structural and electrical properties of AlxIn1-xN/AlN/GaN heterostructures with AlGaN buffers grown by MOCVD, which can be used as an alternative to AlInN HEMT structures with GaN buffer. The effects of the GaN channel thickness and the addition of a content graded AlGaN layer to the structural and electrical characteristics were studied through variable temperature Hall effect measurements, high resolution XRD, and AFM measurements. Enhancement in electron mobility was observed in two of the suggested AlxIn1-xN/AlN/GaN/Al0.04Ga0.96N heterostructures when compared to the standard AlxIn1-xN/AlN/GaN heterostructure. This improvement was attributed to better electron confinement in the channel due to electric field arising from piezoelectric polarization charge at the Al0.04Ga0.96N/GaN heterointerface and by the conduction band discontinuity formed at the same interface. If the growth conditions and design parameters of the AlxIn1-xN HEMT structures with AlGaN buffers can be modified further, the electron spillover from the GaN channel can be significantly limited and even higher electron mobilities, which result in lower two-dimensional sheet resistances, would be possible. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Test beam studies of the TRD prototype filled with different gas mixtures based on Xe, Kr, and Ar

Towards the end of LHC Run1, gas leaks were observed in some parts of the Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) of ATLAS. Due to these leaks, primary Xenon based gas mixture was replaced with Argon based mixture in various parts. Test-beam studies with a dedicated Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) prototype were carried out in 2015 in order to understand transition radiation performance with mixtures based on Argon and Krypton. We present and discuss the results of these test-beam studies with different active gas compositions.Comment: 5 pages,12 figures, The 2nd International Conference on Particle Physics and Astrophysics (ICPPA-2016); Acknowledgments section correcte

The epidemiology of malignant giant cell tumors of bone: an analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (1975–2004)

Malignant giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a rare tumor with debilitating consequences. Patients with GCT of bone typically present with mechanical difficulty and pain as a result of bone destruction and are at an increased risk for fracture. Because of its unusual occurrence, little is known about the epidemiology of malignant GCT of bone. This report offers the first reliable population-based estimates of incidence, patient demographics, treatment course and survival for malignancy in GCT of bone in the United States. Using data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, we estimated the overall incidence and determinants of survival among patients diagnosed with malignant GCT of bone from 1975–2004. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate demographic and clinical determinants of survival among malignant GCT cases. Based on analyses of 117 malignant GCT cases, the estimated annual incidence in the United States was 1.6 per 10,000,000 persons per year. Incidence was highest among adults aged 20 to 44 years (2.4 per 10,000,000 per year) and most patients were diagnosed with localized (31.6%) or regional (29.9%) disease compared to distant disease (16.2%). Approximately 85% of patients survived at least 5 years, with survival poorest among older patients and those with evidence of distant metastases at time of diagnosis. The current study represents the largest systematic investigation examining the occurrence and distribution of malignancy in GCT of bone in the general U.S. population. We confirm its rare occurrence and suggest that age and stage at diagnosis are strongly associated with long-term survival

Effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy on semen parameters of a cohort of 770 HIV-1 infected men

Background HIV-1 infected patients show impaired semen parameters. Currently, it is not clear whether HIV-1 infection itself or antiretroviral therapy have an effect on semen parameters. We aim evaluate semen quality in a large cohort of fertile HIV-1 infected men under stable highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to assess the effect of HAART type and duration on semen parameters. Materials and methods Between January 2010 and June 2014, we enrolled in a retrospective case-control study 770 HIV-1 patients under stable HAART asking a reproductive counselling with their HIV negative partner. Co-infections with HBV or HCV, genital tract infections and known causes of infertility represented exclusion criteria. Semen samples were analysed and compared with the WHO reference values. A multivariate analysis including HAART type and duration, age, viral load and CD4 count, was performed on 600 patients out of 770. Results The median values of all semen parameters were significantly lower among HIV-1 infected patients compared to the WHO reference group, with a significant proportion of patients having values below the 5th percentile of the WHO reference value. In a multivariate analysis, only age and viral load negatively impacted progressive motility (\u3b2 -0.3 (95% CI: -0.5; -0.0) %, p<0.05) and semen morphology (\u3b2 -0.00 (95% CI: -0.00; -0.00) %, p0.01), while no associations were detected as regards HAART type and duration. Conclusions HIV-1 infected patients showed a significant impairment of semen parameters compared to the reference values. HAART type and duration showed no associations with semen quality. Further research is needed to investigate implications for clinical care of HIV infected men desiring a child