Mitsch's order and inclusion for binary relations and partitions

Mitsch's natural partial order on the semigroup of binary relations is here characterised by equations in the theory of relation algebras. The natural partial order has a complex relationship with the compatible partial order of inclusion, which is explored by means of a sublattice of the lattice of preorders on the semigroup. The corresponding sublattice for the partition monoid is also described.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

Plasma igniter for internal combustion engine

An igniter for the air/fuel mixture used in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine is described. A conventional spark is used to initiate the discharge of a large amount of energy stored in a capacitor. A high current discharge of the energy in the capacitor switched on by a spark discharge produces a plasma and a magnetic field. The resultant combined electromagnetic current and magnetic field force accelerates the plasma deep into the combustion chamber thereby providing an improved ignition of the air/fuel mixture in the chamber

Immunocytochemical localization of the main intrinsic polypeptide (MIP) in ultrathin frozen sections of rat lens.

The in situ distribution of the 26-kdalton Main Intrinsic Polypeptide (MIP or MP 26), a putative gap junction protein in ocular lens fibers, was defined at the electron microscope level using indirect immunoferritin labeling of ultrathin frozen sections of rat lens. MIP was found distributed throughout the plasma membrane of the lens fiber cell, with no apparent distinction between junctional and nonjunctional membrane. MIP was not detectable in the basal or lateral plasma membrane of the lens epithelial cell, including the interepithelial cell gap junctions; nor was MIP detectable in the plasma membrane or gap junctions of the hepatocyte. Previous reports have indicated that the protein composition of the lens fiber cell junction differs from that of the hepatocyte gap junction. The evidence presented here suggests that the composition of the fiber cell junction and plasma membrane is also immunocytochemically distinct from that of its progenitor, the lens epithelial cell

Identifying sources of error in cross-national questionnaires: Application of an error source typology to cognitive interview data

This article evaluates a Cross National Error Source Typology that was developed as a tool for making cross-national questionnaire design more effective. Cross-national questionnaire design has a number of potential error sources that are either not present or are less common in single nation studies. Tools that help to identify these error sources better inform the survey researcher when improving a source questionnaire that serves as the basis for translation. This article outlines the theoretical and practical development of the typology and evaluates an attempt to apply it to cross-national cognitive interviewing findings from the European Social Survey

An Economic Evaluation of Binary Cycle Geothermal Electricity Production

The U.S. is heavily dependent on fossil fuels to produce electricity. Geothermal energy, the heat in the earth\u27s crust, can provide an alternative source of energy for electricity production as well as reduce fossil fuel consumption. The economic analysis presented in this study focuses on binary cycle geothermal electricity production. Variables such as well flow rate, geothermal gradient and electricity prices were varied to study their influence on the economic payback period for binary cycle geothermal electricity production. Payback periods represent the amount of time (in years) necessary to recover initial costs of plant construction