Automated synthesis of sequence invariant state machines

A computer aided design (CAD) tool for the design of very large scale integration (VLSI) synchronous sequential controllers is presented. Both the design and layout of the state machine are automatically generated. The program is process independent allowing a choice of design rules to base generation upon. An incremental layout creation approach was implemented which makes the tool useful in a wide range of layout applications. Flow table descriptions are input to characterize the desired machine and a layout archive is output

Characterization of three types of silicon solar cells for SEPS Deep Space Mission. Volume 3: Current-voltage characteristics of spectrolab sculptured BSR/P+ (K7), BSR/P+ (K6.5) and BSR (K4.5) cells as a function of temperature and intensity

Three types of high performance silicon solar cells, sculptured BSR/P+(K7), BSR/P+(K6.5) and BSR(K4.5) manufactured by Spectrolab were evaluated for their low temperature and low intensity performance. Sixteen cells of each type were subjected to 11 temperatures and 9 intensities. The sculptured BSR/P+(K7) cells provided the greatest maximum power output both at 1 AU and at LTLI conditions. The average efficiencies of this cell were 14.4 percent at 1 SC/+25 deg C and 18.5 percent at 0.086 SC/-100 deg C

Characterization of a calcium/calmodulin-regulated SR/CAMTA gene family during tomato fruit development and ripening

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fruit ripening is a complicated development process affected by a variety of external and internal cues. It is well established that calcium treatment delays fruit ripening and senescence. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Previous studies have shown that calcium/calmodulin-regulated SR/CAMTAs are important for modulation of disease resistance, cold sensitivity and wounding response in vegetative tissues. To study the possible roles of this gene family in fruit development and ripening, we cloned seven <it>SR/CAMTAs</it>, designated as <it>SlSRs</it>, from tomato, a model fruit-bearing crop. All seven genes encode polypeptides with a conserved DNA-binding domain and a calmodulin-binding site. Calmodulin specifically binds to the putative targeting site in a calcium-dependent manner. All <it>SlSRs </it>were highly yet differentially expressed during fruit development and ripening. Most notably, the expression of <it>SlSR2 </it>was scarcely detected at the mature green and breaker stages, two critical stages of fruit development and ripening; and <it>SlSR3L </it>and <it>SlSR4 </it>were expressed exclusively in fruit tissues. During the developmental span from 10 to 50 days post anthesis, the expression profiles of all seven <it>SlSR</it>s were dramatically altered in ripening mutant <it>rin </it>compared with wildtype fruit. By contrast, only minor alterations were noted for ripening mutant <it>nor </it>and <it>Nr </it>fruit. In addition, ethylene treatment of mature green wildtype fruit transiently stimulated expression of all <it>SlSR</it>s within one to two hours.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study indicates that <it>SlSR </it>expression is influenced by both the <it>Rin</it>-mediated developmental network and ethylene signaling. The results suggest that calcium signaling is involved in the regulation of fruit development and ripening through calcium/calmodulin/SlSR interactions.</p

AlGaAs 55Fe X-ray radioisotope microbattery

This paper describes the performance of a fabricated prototype Al0.2Ga0.8As 55Fe radioisotope microbattery photovoltaic cells over the temperature range −20 °C to 50 °C. Two 400 μm diameter p+-i-n+ (3 μm i-layer) Al0.2Ga0.8As mesa photodiodes were used as conversion devices in a novel X-ray microbattery prototype. The changes of the key microbattery parameters were analysed in response to temperature: the open circuit voltage, the maximum output power and the internal conversion efficiency decreased when the temperature was increased. At −20 °C, an open circuit voltage and a maximum output power of 0.2 V and 0.04 pW, respectively, were measured per photodiode. The best internal conversion efficiency achieved for the fabricated prototype was only 0.95% at −20 °C

Modified Control Software for Imaging Ultracold Atomic Clouds

A charge-coupled device (CCD) camera capable of taking high-quality images of ultracold atomic samples can often represent a significant portion of the equipment costs in atom trapping experiment. We have modified the commercial control software of a CCD camera designed for astronomical imaging to take absorption images of ultracold rubidium clouds. This camera is sensitive at 780 nm and has been modified to take three successive 16-bit images at full resolution. The control software can be integrated into a Matlab graphical user interface with fitting routines written as Matlab functions. This camera is capable of recording high-quality images at a fraction of the cost of similar cameras typically used in atom trapping experiments

Reduced tillage in corn production

Caption title."Corn Belt Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Columbia, Missouri and the Agricultural Engineering Department of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperating"--Page [2]

Rapid desensitization for non-immediate reactions in patients with cystic fibrosis

AbstractNon-immediate hypersensitivity reactions to antibiotics in patients with CF represent a real-life challenge for clinicians. Desensitization is often performed in patients who have exhausted all therapeutic options. Whilst desensitization is an established procedure for immediate reactions we assessed the outcomes and safety of desensitization for non-immediate reactions.We retrospectively reviewed 275 desensitization procedures in 42 patients with a range of non-immediate reactions to six commonly used antibiotics. Desensitization was performed using a 7-step rapid intravenous protocol on a normal medical ward.250 (91%) of overall desensitization procedures were successful; however, this figure incorporates certain individuals having multiple successful procedures. Individual patient success ranged from 55% with tazocin through to 88% with tobramycin. In the 25 patients who failed desensitization the reactions were mild and the majority occurred within 48h of starting treatment. Prophylactic anti-histamines and steroids did not reduce the risk of reaction.Whilst the mechanisms remain uncertain we can confirm that rapid desensitization is a safe and effective way of re-introducing an antibiotic to a patient with a non-immediate reaction

The Effects of Thawing Procedure and Supplementation on the Motility and Viability of Frozen-thawed Boar Semen

The effect of two thawing procedures on frozen boar semen and supplementations to the fertilization media were studied. Frozen boar semen was thawed using either Percoll gradient or phosphate buffered saline (PBS)procedure. Supplementations were 1.0 mM L-glutamate, 1.0 mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC) , and 1.0 mM NAC-amide (NACA). Spermatozoa were analyzed for forward progressive motility (FPM) and viability every 0.5 h for 3 .0 h post-thawing. There were significantly (P \u3c 0.05) higher numbers of viable (76.0 ± 5.1 %) and FPM (30 .0 ± 2.4%) spermatozoa at 3.0 h post thawing using the PBS procedure compared to the Percoll gradient thawed spermatozoa (65.0 ± 3.9%; 10.0 ± 4.5 %, respectively). Supplementation of 1.0 mM L-glutamate, 1.0 mM NAC, or 1.0 mM NACA had no significant effect on spermatozoa viability regardless of the time post-thaw.Supplementation of 1.0 mM L-glutamate, 1.0 mM NAC , or 1.0 mM NACA had no significant effect on FPM up to 1.0 h post-thaw. Spermatozoa with no supplementation or 1.0 mM L-glutamate had significantly higher (P \u3c 0.05) FPM compared to the 1.0 mM NAC and 1.0 mM NACA supplemented groups at 1.5, 2.0, 2 .5, and 3.0 h post-thaw. There was no significant difference between no supplementation or 1.0 mM L-glutamate on FPM regardless of the time post-thaw. There was no significant difference between 1.0 mM NAC or 1.0 mM NACA on FPM regardless of the time post-thaw. These results indicate that thawing procedure has an effect on spermatozoa viability and FPM but supplementation does not have an effect on the overall viability of spermatozoa during thawing, but may reduce FPM