Timed CCP compositionally embeds Argos and Lustre

We prove that both the synchronous data-flow language Lustre restricted to types with finite values and the synchronous state-oriented language Argos are embedded in the synchronous paradigm Timed Concurrent Constraint Programming (tccp). In fact, for each of the two languages we provide a tccp language encoding it compositionally with respect to the syntax of programs and linearly with respect to the size of programs. Besides giving results of expressiveness for tccp, our encodings permit us to obtain a language tailored for programming reactive systems where both control handling aspects and data processing aspects are relevant.Author partially supported by MIUR progetto cofinanziato Modelli Formali per la Sicurezza e il Tempo and by ESPRIT Working Group Constraint Programming for Time Critical Applications, Project Number 23677Accepted in revised form 22 October 2003 by M. Broy, G. Lüttgen and M. Mendler     

Calibration and testing of a TLD dosemeter for area monitoring

The response of a TLD-600/TLD-700 area dosemeter has been characterized in neutron fields around the 590 MeV cyclotron ring at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). The dosemeter is based on a cylindrical paraffin moderator with three of each type of TLD chip at the centre, and is intended to use for area monitoring around accelerator facilities. The dosemeter is calibrated in terms of ambient dose equivalent using a non-moderated 252Cf neutron source. The ambient dose equivalent response has been tested in five locations where the neutron fields and dose rates have been well characterized by Bonner sphere spectrometer and active neutron monitor measurements. The different spectrum shapes and dose rates in the five locations permit the comparison of the behavior of the active and passive dosemeters in these neutron fields.     

Individual differences and autonomic control: Absorption, hypnotic susceptibility, and the unilateral control of skin temperature.

Proposed to (a) replicate earlier findings that human Ss could voluntarily control peripheral skin temperature, (b) test the hypothesis that hypnotic susceptibility and the capacity for absorbed, imaginative attention would enhance autonomic learning and performance, and (c) demonstrate a learning effect, if one exists. A comparison was made with 7 Ss who scored high and 7 Ss who scored low on both a modified version of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility and the Tellegen Absorption Scale. Auditory feedback was used to train Ss to produce a difference in skin temperature in one hand relative to the other in a direction specified by the E. Large and reliable performance and learning effects were found, but they were unrelated to hypnotic susceptibility or the capacity for absorbed, imaginative attention. Variables that might account for individual differences in learning and performance are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Properties of electrodeposited nickel-cobalt (22–50%) alloys

Electrodeposited nickel-cobalt (EDNiCo) alloys ranging from 22 to 50% cobalt were produced and tested for strength as a function of thermal treatment and cobalt content. The electrolytes used were nickel and cobalt sulfamates with a total metal content of 75 g 1^?1. Cobalt content was varied from 6 to 11% in the electrolyte. Cobalt was supplied by continuously metering in cobalt sulfamate solution. All alloys with cobalt content between 22 and 50% demonstrated yield strengths greater than 60 hbar in both the as-deposited condition and after stress relief at 345°C for 1 h. Highest as-deposited strength was exhibited by the EDNi43Co at 166 hbar (245 × 10³ lb in^?2) ultimate tensile strength and 117 hbar (170 × 10³ lb in^?) yield strength. The EDNi50Co was slightly lower at 161 hbar ultimate tensile strength. Stress relief of the EDNi43Co alloy at 455°C produced a strong material with very good ductility (elongation 25%, reduction of area 50%). A similar treatment of the EDNi50Co at 455°C resulted in a strength about 50% greater than that of EDNi in a hydrogen environment.     

Skin nanostructural features determine suture biomechanics

The stress state surrounding wounds in the skin plays an important role in the healing process; it affects the tissue strength, its aesthetic, and its resistance to infections. In this paper, the collagen fibril and elastin matrix damage mechanics following suture point application is investigated at the nanoscale; to this purpose, a model has been developed, which accounts for the architectural and mechanical features of the tissue components. Results indicate that the force displacement caused by the suture point application curve initially stiffens and subsequently softens. Softening occurs due at first to the enlargement of the elastin matrix damaged area and second to the collagen fibril disruption. Three regions may be identified: the first one, (0-0.38 N) refers to skin withstanding the force both in the collagen and elastin components; the second one (0.38-0.75 N) concerns the mechanism of elastin matrix damage; in the last one (>0.75 N), the collagen fibrils also fail. Accordingly, by properly choosing the number of suture points, it is possible to define the optimal suture points number for a given wound closure force.     

Learning independent components on the orthogonal group of matrices by retractions

Neural independent component learning algorithms based on optimization on manifolds have attracted interest in the neural network community. In the past years, we have developed learning algorithms specialized for the orthogonal group of matrices as parameters manifold. Here, we sketch a view of these algorithms by the help of ‘retractions’ on manifolds.     

First data from the EGLE experiment onboard the ISS

EGLE is a wide frequency band search- coil magnetometer designed and built at the Roma Tre University. It has been installed onboard the ISS by the Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori on April 25, 2005 within the LAZIO- EGLE experiment carried out during the ENEIDE Soyuz mission. The scope of the experiment is to test EGLE in space and to investigate geomagnetic field variations. The main applications of EGLE are the study of electromagnetic environment inside the ISS, the correlation of magnetic field data with particle fluxes detected by LAZIO particle detector, and the monitoring of ionospheric perturbations possibly caused by Earth seismic activity. Since continuous electromagnetic field measurements on board the ISS are important for diverse space applications, a magnetometer with a suitable design is requested. Appropriate solutions for these applications, which have been adopted by EGLE, are in particular the use of 1- Wire technology and the possibility to detect by means of a search- coil magnetometer a large portion of the ULF frequency band, usually measured by flux- gate probes. To investigate the topside ionosphere electromagnetic environment and stability of Van Allen radiation belts in relation with seismic and anthropogenic electromagnetic emissions, a specific satellite mission (the ESPERIA project) has been designed for the Italian Space Agency (ASI), and up to now a few instruments of its payload have been built and tested in space. One of them is exactly the EGLE search- coil magnetometer. The first magnetic observations performed by this instrument reveal to be promising and demand for a further and deeper analysis based on a longer time series of data.     

Analysis of Scalar Maps for the Segmentation of the Corpus Callosum in Diffusion Tensor Fields

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a powerful technique for imaging axonal anatomy in vivo and its automatic segmentation is important for quantitative analysis and visualization. Application of the watershed transform is a recent approach for robustly segmenting diffusion tensor images. Since an important step of the watershed-based segmentation is the gradient computation, this paper investigates scalar maps from DTI and their ability to enhance borders and, therefore, their usefulness in gradient calculation. A comparison between existing scalar maps is conducted in the context of segmentation. New diffusion scalar maps, inspired by mathematical morphology concepts are proposed and included in the comparison. The watershed transform is then applied to segment the corpus callosum, based on the computed scalar maps.