Representations of measurable sets in computable measure theory

This article is a fundamental study in computable measure theory. We use the framework of TTE, the representation approach, where computability on an abstract set X is defined by representing its elements with concrete "names", possibly countably infinite, over some alphabet {\Sigma}. As a basic computability structure we consider a computable measure on a computable $\sigma$-algebra. We introduce and compare w.r.t. reducibility several natural representations of measurable sets. They are admissible and generally form four different equivalence classes. We then compare our representations with those introduced by Y. Wu and D. Ding in 2005 and 2006 and claim that one of our representations is the most useful one for studying computability on measurable functions

Demodulation and Detection Schemes for a Memoryless Optical WDM Channel

It is well known that matched filtering and sampling (MFS) demodulation together with minimum Euclidean distance (MD) detection constitute the optimal receiver for the additive white Gaussian noise channel. However, for a general nonlinear transmission medium, MFS does not provide sufficient statistics, and therefore is suboptimal. Nonetheless, this receiver is widely used in optical systems, where the Kerr nonlinearity is the dominant impairment at high powers. In this paper, we consider a suite of receivers for a two-user channel subject to a type of nonlinear interference that occurs in wavelength-division-multiplexed channels. The asymptotes of the symbol error rate (SER) of the considered receivers at high powers are derived or bounded analytically. Moreover, Monte-Carlo simulations are conducted to evaluate the SER for all the receivers. Our results show that receivers that are based on MFS cannot achieve arbitrary low SERs, whereas the SER goes to zero as the power grows for the optimal receiver. Furthermore, we devise a heuristic demodulator, which together with the MD detector yields a receiver that is simpler than the optimal one and can achieve arbitrary low SERs. The SER performance of the proposed receivers is also evaluated for some single-span fiber-optical channels via split-step Fourier simulations

Immediate dilation of a tight or stenotic cervix by intra-procedural administration of hyoscine butylbromide: A clinical trial

Background: Cervical dilation is indicated prior to performing various gynecological procedures. However, gynecologists are at times confronted with a stenotic or tight cervix, resistant to dilation. This can be problematic particularly when cervical ripening has not been attempted hours before the start of the procedure. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of administration of hyoscine butylbromide for cervical dilation for immediate dilation of the tight or stenotic cervix. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, a population of 40 women, aged 20-70 yr with stenotic cervix, evidenced by resistance to pass dilator #2 through their cervical canal were compared. Cervical patency was assessed 10 min following intracervical canal instillation of hyoscine butylbromide. Results: Cervical width of 57.5% of patients became wider, as evidenced by passage of the number 4 Hegar dilator through the cervical canal without resistance. Independent T-tests did not reveal any statistically significant difference between the two groups based on their age. Fisher Exact test revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups based on the prior route of delivery, with a more statistically significant response in patients who had vaginal deliveries. Conclusion: Intra-cervical canal instillation of hyoscine butylbromide is effective in immediate dilation of the tight or stenotic cervix during intra-uterine procedures

Understanding Biomass Upgrading Through Hydrogenolysis Reactions: Kinetics and Mechanism

This dissertation involves several hydrogenolysis reactions but is mainly focused on hydrodechlorination (HDC) of chlorobenzene (PhCl) and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of 2-furancarboxylic acid (FCA). Hydrodechlorination of PhCl has been the subject of research for some time. Here, we used a Pd/C catalyst to study this reaction though rigorous kinetics and mechanistic analyses in a CSTR reactor. The H2/D2 kinetic isotope effect (KIE) experiment revealed that H2 is not involved in a rate controlling step. The kinetics data are in agreement with similar systems reported before and follow a first-order dependence on chlorobenzene, half order for hydrogen and an inverse first order with respect to HCl. These data suggest a mechanism that involves C-Cl cleavage in the rate controlling step preceded by adsorption of reactant and followed by desorption of products from the surface. The derived rate expression was used in a microkinetic model to predict the observed rates of this reaction. This model successfully captures the experimental trends observed in the kinetic studies. Moreover, motivated by the applications of in situ spectroscopic techniques, the detailed design of an FTIR cell which enables both steady state and transient studies to measure kinetics and investigate the mechanism of reactions at a molecular level, is included. Hydrodeoxygenation of 2-furancarboxylic acid was investigated to produce delta-valerolactone, which represents a series of functionalized lactone molecules that have a potential to be used in prospective polymers. Motivated by excellent HDO activity reported for Ru/TiO2 catalysts, and with the aim of taking advantage of the built-in bifunctionality of this catalyst when introduced to hydrogen, we have used Ru/TiO2 toquantitatively synthesize the functionalized lactone monomer (FDHL). The focus of our work has been to optimize process parameters, including temperature, solvent, catalyst support, metal loading, weight of the catalyst and reaction time, to achieve an acceptable yield for the target product. The yield of 53% to -hexalactone (DHL) for a simple 5-methyl-2-furancarboxylic acid was significantly greater than the previous reports

D-Side: A Facility and Workforce Planning Group Multi-criteria Decision Support System for Johnson Space Center

"To understand and protect our home planet, to explore the universe and search for life, and to inspire the next generation of explorers" is NASA's mission. The Systems Management Office at Johnson Space Center (JSC) is searching for methods to effectively manage the Center's resources to meet NASA's mission. D-Side is a group multi-criteria decision support system (GMDSS) developed to support facility decisions at JSC. D-Side uses a series of sequential and structured processes to plot facilities in a three-dimensional (3-D) graph on the basis of each facility alignment with NASA's mission and goals, the extent to which other facilities are dependent on the facility, and the dollar value of capital investments that have been postponed at the facility relative to the facility replacement value. A similarity factor rank orders facilities based on their Euclidean distance from Ideal and Nadir points. These similarity factors are then used to allocate capital improvement resources across facilities. We also present a parallel model that can be used to support decisions concerning allocation of human resources investments across workforce units. Finally, we present results from a pilot study where 12 experienced facility managers from NASA used D-Side and the organization's current approach to rank order and allocate funds for capital improvement across 20 facilities. Users evaluated D-Side favorably in terms of ease of use, the quality of the decision-making process, decision quality, and overall value-added. Their evaluations of D-Side were significantly more favorable than their evaluations of the current approach. Keywords: NASA, Multi-Criteria Decision Making, Decision Support System, AHP, Euclidean Distance, 3-D Modeling, Facility Planning, Workforce Planning

A hybrid Delphi-SWOT paradigm for oil and gas pipeline strategic planning in Caspian Sea basin

The Caspian Sea basin holds large quantities of both oil and natural gas that could help meet the increasing global demand for energy resources. Consequently, the oil and gas potential of the region has attracted the attention of the international oil and gas industry. The key to realizing the energy producing potential of the region is the development of transnational export routes to take oil and gas from the landlocked Caspian Sea basin to world markets. The evaluation and selection of alternative transnational export routes is a complex multi-criteria problem with conflicting objectives. The decision makers (DMs) are required to consider a vast amount of information concerning internal strengths and weaknesses of the alternative routes as well as external opportunities and threats to them. This paper presents a hybrid model that combines strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) analysis with the Delphi metho

A case study in multiple criteria decision support systems

Evaluation of strategic alternatives is an important task for strategic managers. This is a difficult task due to inherent complexities of the evaluation process and lack of structured information. The evaluation process must consider external opportunities and threats, and internal strengths and weaknesses. This paper presents a case study in multiple criteria decision support systems. The decision support system presented in this paper utilizes the model presented in the appendix along with several computer systems including EXPERT CHOICE and Spreadsheets to enhance and aid the decision maker\u27s- intuition in evaluating potential alternatives

p53 and DNA methylation suppress the TRAIN to cell death

Hallmark to most cancers is the mutation or complete loss of function of the tumor-suppressor gene p53. p53 functions by transcriptionally activating or repressing putative downstream targets to elicit a network of tumor-suppressive functions—transient cell cycle arrest allowing for DNA repair and, upon irreparable damage, senescence or apoptosis. Recently, our group has shown that p53-meidated transactivation of metabolic targets can suppress tumorigenesis in the absence of both cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Notably termed the “guardian of the genome,” many therapies have been targeted to reactivate p53 or the downstream targets to initiate apoptosis or cell cycle arrest in cells that have escaped these properties, yet in some instances, p53-proficient tumors have a worse response to therapy. An opposite and ever-attractive chemotherapeutic approach has been to selectively target attributes of p53-mutant and -deficient cells that are absent in p53 proficiency