Summary report: A preliminary investigation into the use of fuzzy logic for the control of redundant manipulators

The Rice University Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Sciences' Robotics Group designed and built an eight degree of freedom redundant manipulator. Fuzzy logic was proposed as a control scheme for tasks not directly controlled by a human operator. In preliminary work, fuzzy logic control was implemented for a camera tracking system and a six degree of freedom manipulator. Both preliminary systems use real time vision data as input to fuzzy controllers. Related projects include integration of tactile sensing and fuzzy control of a redundant snake-like arm that is under construction

Cohort, Year and Age Effects in Canadian Wage Data

We use Canadian Surveys of Consumer Finances 1971-1993 to study the wages of full-time, full-year male and female workers. Median real wages of 24-year-old males without a university degree fell by 25% between 1978 and 1993. For 24-year-old females the decline was more modest and reversed in 1987, but real wages in 1993 were still significantly lower than they were in 1978. We investigate whether these changes are permanent "cohort" effects or more temporary "year" effects. Graphs of median wages against year and age indicate some periods where year effects are more prominent than cohort effects and other periods where the reverse is true. We then compare the results from two models, one assigning the trends to year effects, the other assigning them to cohort effects, and use these models to produce real wage projections.SCF; wages; cohort

Immune response to rabies vaccination in pediatric transplant patients

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75049/1/j.1399-3046.2008.00936.x.pd

Patient Selection and Volume in the Era Surrounding Implementation of Medicare Conditions of Participation for Transplant Programs

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110882/1/hesr12188.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110882/2/hesr12188-sup-0001-AuthorMatrix.pd

A prospective, randomized trial of complete avoidance of steroids in liver transplantation with follow‐up of over 7 years

Objectives Steroids are a mainstay of treatment in orthotopic liver transplantation ( OLT ) and are associated with significant morbidity. This trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of steroids avoidance. Methods Patients undergoing OLT between June 2002 and April 2005 were entered into a prospective, randomized trial of complete steroids avoidance and followed until November 2011. Recipients received either standard therapy ( n = 50) or complete steroids avoidance ( n = 50). Analyses were performed on an intention‐to‐treat basis. The mean follow‐up of all recipients was 2095 ± 117 days. Sixteen (32%) recipients randomized to the steroids avoidance group ultimately received steroids for clinical indications. Results Incidences of diabetes and hypertension prior to or after OLT were similar in both groups, as was the incidence of rejection. Patient and graft survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were lower in the steroids avoidance group than in the standard therapy group (patient survival: 1‐year, 80% versus 86%; 3‐year, 68% versus 76%; 5‐year, 60% versus 72%; graft survival: 1‐year, 76% versus 76%; 3‐year, 64% versus 74%; 5‐year, 56% versus 72%), but the differences were not statistically different. Conclusions Complete steroids avoidance provides liver transplant recipients with minimal benefit and appears to result in a concerning trend towards decreased graft and recipient survival. The present data support the use of at least a short course of steroids after liver transplantation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97180/1/hpb576.pd

Repeat Organ Transplantation in the United States, 1996–2005

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72698/1/j.1600-6143.2007.01786.x.pd

Chronometry and formation pathways of gypsum using Electron Spin Resonance and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Gypsum is an authigenic precipitate that forms under periods of accentuated aridity and occurs widely in arid zones. However its use in quantitative paleoclimatology has been limited due to the absence of a method to determine the timing of its formation. We present here the results of a feasibility study that demonstrates that the timing of the formation event of gypsum can be estimated using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) analysis. We used well documented samples from White Sands in New Mexico, USA, the Thar Desert, India and lakes in the Simpson Desert and Mallee Region, Australia and found that ESR ages could be obtained using radiation sensitive SO4-, SO3- radicals and a photobleachable signal O3-. ESR signals were consistent with control ages based on contextual information. These suggest that the dating signals (SO4-, SO3-) are stable over time scales >100 ka. We propose that this stability of the SO4- signals over geological time scales arises due to hydrogen bonding between the water proton and the SO4- radical and that the suitability of these radiation-induced radicals comes from their being a part of the host matrix. Further, ESR along with Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy methods additionally inform on the geochemical pathways for gypsum formation and help elucidate complex formation processes even in samples that appeared unambiguous gypsum precipitates. Thus, the presence of Hannebachite (CaSO3.1/2H2O) and Mn2+ in Thar and Australian samples suggested a reducing environment such that low valence sulfur reacted with CaCO3 to form hannebachite and eventually gypsum. The presence of sulfur, partially as sulfite in Thar gypsum samples suggested that redox cycles were mediated by microbial activity. Absence of these features in White Sands samples suggested oxic conditions during gypsum precipitation