Test regions using two or more correlated product characteristics

For inspection of manufactured parts, one can use the information of two\ud or more product characteristics that are strongly related to the characteristic\ud of interest. Under the condition that at most a given, typically very\ud small, fraction of the accepted parts does not satisfy the specication limit,\ud test regions are determined such that the number of accepted products is\ud maximized. The methods are illustrated by Monte Carlo results and a\ud numerical example from semiconductor industry

Results of geophysical monitoring over a "leaking" natural analogue site in Italy

CO2 storage in the subsurface is becoming more and more attractive as a means to reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere and hence minimize human-induced global warming. The ability to monitor and verify these CO2 storage reservoirs is a key element for further implementation of other storage sites. Since the current sites fortunately do not appear to "leak" CO2, it is difficult to test the most suitable monitoring techniques for their ability to detect CO2 migration pathways. In this study different monitoring methods have been evaluated at a site in the Latera caldera (central Italy) where natural, thermo-metamorphically produced CO2 finds its way to the surface. The aim of the study is to identify which monitoring methods can detect the migrating CO2 and to gain understanding of the preferential migration pathways of the CO2. Different geophysical monitoring techniques have been deployed at a small, 200×500 m study area located in the centre of the caldera: 2D reflection seismics (testing different sources), 2D refraction seismics, multi-channel analysis of surface wave (MASW), ground penetrating radar (GPR), micro-gravity, magnetometer, self-potential (SP), 2D and 3D geo-electrical measurements and electro-magnetic (EM31 and EM34) measurements. Furthermore CO2 flux measurements were performed in a dense grid over the study area, and a limited number of soil gas samples collected along two profiles, to "ground-truth" the geophysical results. In general a good correlation has been observed between the different methods and the presence of CO2. Geophysical responses, especially those of the reflection seismic and magnetometer data, change markedly from one side of the proposed main fault to the other, probably linked to a sharp geological boundary. The observed fractures on the seismic data seem to correspond with the preferred migration pathways of the CO2. The GPR and resistivity measurements detect strong variations in conductivity induced by the presence of the CO2 up to about 2 and 20 m depth, respectively, as supported by the soil gas and flux measurements. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The impact of community-based arts and health interventions on cognition in people with dementia: a systematic literature review

Objectives: Dementia is a progressive condition, affecting increasing numbers of people, characterised by cognitive decline. The current systematic review aimed to evaluate research pertaining to the impact of arts and health interventions on cognition in people with dementia. Method: A literature search was conducted utilising PsychInfo, Cochrane Reviews, Web of Science, Medline and British Humanities Index databases. Seventeen studies were included in the review, including those related to literary, performing and visual arts. Results: The review highlighted this as an emerging area of research with the literature consisting largely of small-scale studies with methodological limitations including lack of control groups and often poorly defined samples. All the studies suggested, however, that arts-based activities had a positive impact on cognitive processes, in particular on attention, stimulation of memories, enhanced communication and engagement with creative activities. Conclusion: The existent literature suggests that arts activities are helpful interventions within dementia care. A consensus has yet to emerge, however, about the direction for future research including the challenge of measurement and the importance of methodological flexibility. It is suggested that further research address some of these limitations by examining whether the impact of interventions vary depending n cognitive ability and to continue to assess how arts interventions can be of use across the stages of dementia

Should every child with epilepsy undergo screening for psychiatric comorbidities?

Purpose: We aimed to build a classification system that uses resting-state (no visible scalp epileptic activity) EEG-based directed functional connectivity values to assign a patient to one of three classes: left TLE (LTLE), right TLE (RTLE) or healthy control. Methods: Twenty LTLE, 20 RTLE and 35 healthy controls underwent resting-state high-density EEG. For each subject, sixty 1-sec epochs free of artifacts or interictal spikes were selected. The source activity was obtained for 82 regions of interest using an individual head model and distributed linear inverse solution. The summed outflow and whole-brain directed functional connectivity were estimated in the theta, alpha and beta frequency bands using Granger-causal modeling. A Random Forest classifier (an ensemble of decision tree classifiers) was then used to assign the subject to one of three classes. The mean classification accuracy was computed with a leave-one-out procedure. We selected a maximum of six connectivity values for classification, using a greedy forward selection algorithm. Finally, three classifiers were built: ‘Control vs. LTLE’, ‘Control vs. RTLE’ and ‘LTLE vs. RTLE’. In the final classification system, a new subject is assigned to the class that was most voted by these three classifiers. Results: The ‘Control vs. RTLE’ classifier achieved an accuracy of 78.2% (sensitivity: 80.0%, specificity 77.2%), ‘Control vs. LTLE’ an accuracy of 83.6% (sensitivity 85.0%, specificity 82.9%) and ‘LTLE vs. RTLE’ an accuracy of 85.0% (sensitivity 85.0%, specificity 85.0%). Combining these classifiers into one system yielded that 16, 15 and 27 subjects were correctly classified as being, respectively, RTLE, LTLE and control. Conclusion: The high accuracy achieved demonstrates the potential of resting-state EEG-based directed functional connectivity for the diagnosis and lateralization of TLE. This could constitute a new clinical biomarker for surgical candidates and earlier in the course of the disease

Habitattypen in Natura 2000-gebieden : beoordeling van oppervlakte, representativiteit en behoudsstatus in de Standard Data Forms (SDFs)

In dit rapport wordt een onderbouwing gegeven van de zogenaamde Standaard Data Forms (SDF’s) vanhabitattypen van de Annex I van de Habitatrichtlijn. Deze SDF’s maken onderdeel uit van de database over de Natura 2000-gebieden in ons land. De database speelt een rol bij eventuele juridische procedures en wordt door de Europese Commissie gebruikt om de voorstellen voor Natura 2000-gebieden van EU-lidstaten te beoordelen. In dit rapport is aangegeven op welke informatie de ecologische gegevens van de habitattypen in de Natura 2000-gebieden zijn beoordeeld. Het betreft gegevens over de oppervlakte van een habitat, de representativiteit, de relatieve oppervlakte ten opzichte van de oppervlakte in heel Nederland, de behoudsstatus van het habitattype, en een algemene evaluatie. Deze gegevens zijn aan de hand van uitgebreide maatlatten gescoord voor alle habitatrichtlijngebieden waarin een habitattype voorkomt. In totaal gaat het om ruim 1130 combinaties van habitattypen en gebieden

The closest elastic tensor of arbitrary symmetry to an elasticity tensor of lower symmetry

The closest tensors of higher symmetry classes are derived in explicit form for a given elasticity tensor of arbitrary symmetry. The mathematical problem is to minimize the elastic length or distance between the given tensor and the closest elasticity tensor of the specified symmetry. Solutions are presented for three distance functions, with particular attention to the Riemannian and log-Euclidean distances. These yield solutions that are invariant under inversion, i.e., the same whether elastic stiffness or compliance are considered. The Frobenius distance function, which corresponds to common notions of Euclidean length, is not invariant although it is simple to apply using projection operators. A complete description of the Euclidean projection method is presented. The three metrics are considered at a level of detail far greater than heretofore, as we develop the general framework to best fit a given set of moduli onto higher elastic symmetries. The procedures for finding the closest elasticity tensor are illustrated by application to a set of 21 moduli with no underlying symmetry.Comment: 48 pages, 1 figur

Diabetic gastroparesis: Therapeutic options

Gastroparesis is a condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying and the most common known underlying cause is diabetes mellitus. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal fullness, and early satiety, which impact to varying degrees on the patient’s quality of life. Symptoms and deficits do not necessarily relate to each other, hence despite significant abnormalities in gastric emptying, some individuals have only minimal symptoms and, conversely, severe symptoms do not always relate to measures of gastric emptying. Prokinetic agents such as metoclopramide, domperidone, and erythromycin enhance gastric motility and have remained the mainstay of treatment for several decades, despite unwanted side effects and numerous drug interactions. Mechanical therapies such as endoscopic pyloric botulinum toxin injection, gastric electrical stimulation, and gastrostomy or jejunostomy are used in intractable diabetic gastroparesis (DG), refractory to prokinetic therapies. Mitemcinal and TZP-101 are novel investigational motilin receptor and ghrelin agonists, respectively, and show promise in the treatment of DG. The aim of this review is to provide an update on prokinetic and mechanical therapies in the treatment of DG

Borehole radar modeling for reservoir monitoring applications

The use of down-hole sensors and remotely controlled valves in wells provide enormous benefits to reservoir management and oil production. We suggest borehole radar measurements as a promising technique capable of monitoring the arrival of undesired fluids in the proximity of production wells. The high radar sensitivity to contrasts in fluid saturation changes would make this technique suitable for steam chamber monitoring in Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) processes and water front monitoring in thin oil rim environments. We use 2D FDTD modeling to evaluate the most significant technical and reservoir constraints. Technical constraints are given by the wellbore. A high dielectric medium surrounding the EM source is necessary to avoid destructive interference with the reflections of the metal casing. The main reservoir constraint is given by the conductivity of the formation where the radar is located; high conductivity makes attenuation and phase distortion too high for wave propagation. Additional constraints are given by the complexity of the reservoir and the dynamic of the fluids. Time-lapse changes in the heterogeneity of the background formation strongly affect the retrieval of the target reflections and gradual fluid saturation changes reduce the amplitude of the reflections.© 2010, Society of Petroleum Engineers