Spin Alignment Generated in Inelastic Nuclear Reactions

The spin alignment of inelastically excited 7Li projectiles, when the target remains in its ground state, was determined through angular-correlation measurements between the breakup fragments of 7Li_ (_ + t). It was found that 7Li_ is largely aligned along the beam axis (longitudinal) in this type of inelastic reaction, regardless of the target. This longitudinal alignment is well described by DWBA calculations, which can be explained by an angular-momentum-excitation-energy mismatch condition. These calculations also explain the longitudinal spin alignment of excited nuclei in several other systems, showing the phenomenon is more general. The experiment involving 7Li was performed at the Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute, and used a custom designed detector system consisting of two annular Si-CsI(Tl) telescope arrays

Notes on the value function approach to multiobjective bilevel optimization

This paper is concerned with the value function approach to multiobjective bilevel optimization which exploits a lower level frontier-type mapping in order to replace the hierarchical model of two interdependent multiobjective optimization problems by a single-level multiobjective optimization problem. As a starting point, different value-function-type reformulations are suggested and their relations are discussed. Here, we focus on the situations where the lower level problem is solved up to efficiency or weak efficiency, and an intermediate solution concept is suggested as well. We study the graph-closedness of the associated efficiency-type and frontier-type mappings. These findings are then used for two purposes. First, we investigate existence results in multiobjective bilevel optimization. Second, for the derivation of necessary optimality conditions via the value function approach, it is inherent to differentiate frontier-type mappings in a generalized way. Here, we are concerned with the computation of upper coderivative estimates for the frontier-type mapping associated with the setting where the lower level problem is solved up to weak efficiency. We proceed in two ways, relying, on the one hand, on a weak domination property and, on the other hand, on a scalarization approach. Throughout the paper, illustrative examples visualize our findings, the necessity of crucial assumptions, and some flaws in the related literature.Comment: 30 page

Eco-inovação nas empresas brasileiras : investigação empírica a partir da pintec

Não são recentes as preocupações supra-nacionais em incluir meio ambiente e bem-estar social nas discussões sobre desenvolvimento, originando e reforçando o conceito de Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Nas fases de evolução desta idéia, percebem-se dinâmicas recíprocas entre os agentes envolvidos e mudanças reativas a resultados anteriores. Reconhecendo a interdependência entre as crises ambientais contemporâneas e a trajetória insustentável das atividades econômicas, discute-se um novo paradigma de organização econômica: a Economia Verde. A transição para este paradigma sustenta-se principalmente sobre a realocação de investimentos e a utilização das Eco-Inovações, pelas corporações. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar um panorama geral destas entre empresas brasileiras, buscando compreender o seu comportamento. Foram usados dados da PINTEC 2008 e referências internacionais como fontes de informação. Dentre os resultados destaca-se que o número de empresas Eco-Inovadoras representa 33,5 % do total amostrado pela PINTEC. Os principais tipos de Eco-Inovação implementadas são: técnicas de gestão ambiental (23.975 empresas), redução de impacto ao meio ambiente (13.159 empresas) e redução de consumo de matérias-primas (10.034 empresas). Fatores internos às empresas (dinâmica do processo produtivo) e fatores externos às empresas (leis ambientais e regulações) podem explicar a heterogeneidade nos subgrupos setoriais.Supra-nationals concerns have bringing into the development discussions issues related to environment and social welfare, giving rise and strength to the Sustainable Development concept. In its evolution phases one can realize dynamic reciprocities among the agents involved and reactive changes to the results achieved at earlier phases. Recognizing the several environmental crises experienced by humanity and their interdependence, and the unsustainable trajectory of economic activities a new paradigm of economic organization has been debated: the Green Economy The transition to this paradigm is sustained mainly on investments reallocation and the increasing use of Eco-Innovations. This paper is aimed at presenting an overview of the Eco-Innovation among Brazilian firms with the main goal of understanding their behavior. We have used data from PINTEC and international references as sources of information. The results indicate that Eco-Innovative firms represent 33,5% of firms surveyed by PINTEC. The main types of Eco-Innovation implemented are: environmental management techniques (23,975 firms), reduced environmental impacts (13,159 firms), and reduced consumption of raw materials (10,034 firms). Internal factors to firms (dynamic production process), as well as external factors (environmental laws and regulations) may explain the firms participation heterogeneity in each subsector

Chocolate Bar Wrapping Machine

Gilbert Chocolates has proposed to manufacture a machine to wrap chocolate bars. This machine is intended to replace two people wrapping the chocolate bars by hand, which is a time consuming method. This is especially apparent between October and January when the workers are working long hours in preparation for the Christmas rush of customers. Currently wrapping a bar takes about a minute and Gilbert Chocolates wants this time reduced down to 20-30 seconds. The budget for this project is set at $1000, and is being funded by the company. This machine needs to fit in a cubic foot of space and weigh under 30 pounds for storage purposes. This device can be either purely mechanical with manual input, or it may use step motors and a controller. This project pulls from our knowledge in kinematics, dynamics, 3D modeling, tolerance analysis, material selection, manufacturing techniques, and design of components. From doing this project we will learn how to apply all of these concepts together to solve real world problems. This project will encompass the design, manufacturing of a prototype, and optimization of the chocolate bar wrapping machine in hopes that the price of manufacturing chocolate bars can be reduced for Gilbert Chocolates. The final presentation of this project will include a working prototype, a report, and a presentation. The project will be presented at the Engineering Senior Design Project day. The machine will be operated and displayed at this event

Eastern Redcedar Encroachment Dynamics and Fuel Loading in the North-central Cross Timbers of Oklahoma, Usa.

Cross Timbers oak forests were historically the transition zone between the eastern deciduous forest and the southern Great Plains, and were typically dominated by Quercus stellata and Q. marilandica. The shift in human activity from lighting fires to suppressing them has caused a change in the composition and structure of the Cross Timbers. Encroachment of eastern redcedar (ERC; Juniperus virginiana) into the Quercus-dominated region is an ongoing management issue which affects ecosystem services and wildfire danger. The location and density of J. virginiana in the forest understory and midstory are important information for fire managers seeking to estimate the behavior of fires or anticipate resources and attack methods needed to contain wildland fires. We developed a method to use remotely sensed, 3-band, satellite imagery to determine ERC presence and abundance and estimate increased fuel loading within the Cross Timbers forest on 90 Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Trust / tribal properties in Pawnee and Payne Counties Oklahoma, USA. To explore the dynamics of the encroachment of J. virginiana into the Cross Timbers we used 130 field verification plots to ground truth our imagery and assess the current composition and structure of trust properties. The image analysis was successful in detecting presence and abundance and useful in estimating increased fuel loading. Juniperus virginiana averaged 21% canopy cover within the forest matrix and added 6.3 Mg ha-1 to the fuel loading, a 38% increase. When cataloging field plots we found Q. stellata dominated the tree layer, but was at low frequency in the sapling and seedling layers. Quercus marilandica was present in very small quantities despite its reputation as a historically dominant tree. Increment cores collected from mature trees indicated that Quercus recruitment has been declining since the 1950’s while J. virginiana and fire-intolerant hardwood recruitment has been increasing. The fire-intolerant, more mesic species, exhibited significantly higher growth rates than Quercus and Juniperus species. The densification of the Cross Timbers by fire-intolerant species and J. virginiana will have significant effects on future fire behavior, future fire regimes and restoration potential as well as the future composition and structure of the Cross Timbers.Natural Resources and Ecology Managemen

Comparing Natural and Strong Typing Behavior for Keystroke Dynamics Multimodal Database Collection: Poster

In paper

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma: A review on molecular profiling of patient tumors

Pancreatic carcinomas with acinar differentiation are rare, accounting for 1%-2% of adult pancreatic tumors; they include pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC), pancreatoblastoma, and carcinomas of mixed differentiation. Patients with PACC have a prognosis better than pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas but worse than pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Reports of overall survival range from 18 to 47 mo. A literature review on PACCs included comprehensive genomic profiling and whole exome sequencing on a series of more than 70 patients as well as other diagnostic studies including immunohistochemistry. Surgical resection of PACC is the preferred treatment for localized and resectable tumors. The efficacy of adjuvant treatment is unclear. Metastatic PACCs are generally not curable and treated with systemic chemotherapy. They are moderately responsive to chemotherapy with different regimens showing various degrees of response in case reports/series. Most of these regimens were developed to treat patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas or colorectal adenocarcinomas. Review of PACC’s molecular profiling showed a number of gene alterations such as: SMAD4, BRAF, BRCA2, TP53, RB1, MEN1, JAK-1, BRCA-1, BRCA-2, and DNA mismatch repair abnormalities. PACCs had multiple somatic mutations with some targetable with available drugs. Therefore, molecular profiling of PACC should be an option for patients with refractory PACC