Stimulating Creativity through Opportunistic Software Development

Using opportunistic software development principles in computer engineering education encourages students to be creative and to develop solutions that cross the boundaries of diverse technologies. A framework for opportunistic software development education helps to create a space in which students can combine systems that were never meant to work together or even to be reused, and thus produce innovative ideas and solutions. A case study involving students in a course on intelligent human-computer interaction design demonstrates the approach, and the authors discuss some lessons learned.     

Effect of complex oxide promoters and Pd on activity and stability of Ni/YSZ (ScSZ) cermets as anode materials for IT SOFC

Effect of fluorite-like or perovskite-like complex oxide promoters, Pd and Cu on the performance of Ni/8YSZ and Ni/ScCeSZ anode materials in CH₄ steam reforming (SR) or selective oxidation (SO) by O₂ into syngas was studied. The spatial distribution of dopants in composites before and after contact with the reaction feed, features of components mutual interaction and forms of deposited coke were controlled by TEM combined with EDX analysis. The lattice oxygen mobility and reactivity were estimated by CH₄ and H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and the amount of deposited carbon after operation in the feed with stoichiometric H₂O/CH₄ ratio was estimated by the temperature-programmed oxidation. Promoters decrease the amount of deposited coke, while doping by Pd or Cu ensures also a good and stable performance at moderate (550 °C) temperatures required for the intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT SOFC) operation.     

Study on the Implementation of Optical Transparent Transport Networks in the European Environment—Results of the Research Project COST 239

Photonic Network Communications -     

Simultaneous optimization of topology and geometry of flow networks

We consider a problem of minimizing a pressure drop due to a flow of a fluid or gas through an interconnected system of pipes. We show that simultaneous optimization of pipe diameters and nodal positions (topology and geometry optimization) results for fluid networks in a better optimization strategy than traditionally used ground-structure approach (topology optimization only), as opposed to the linear truss case. We also show how the results for linear flow networks can be easily carried out to nonlinear transient and turbulent cases. Stating the optimality conditions for the latter types of flow, we give an alternative derivation of generalized Murray’s law, which is well-known in physiology. We illustrate our theoretical findings with numerical examples.     

Durability studies of metal evaporated tapes in a linear tape drive: Role of head contour and tape tension

Magnetic performance of metal evaporated (ME) tape makes it a prominent storage media candidate for future data recording systems. However, the durability of ME tapes, limited by a number of tribological issues, is a major concern. A preliminary investigation on durability of ME tapes in a linear tape drive has been carried out. The effect of head contour and tape tension on the durability of the head-tape interface has been studied. An optical microscopy based technique has been used to measure the quality of factory-slit tape edges and after use in a liner tape drive. Debris distribution over the head surface at the end of the testing has been monitored. The ME tapes are found to be sensitive to both head contour and tape tension. Some desirable attributes of ME tapes required to improve durability are discussed.Financial support for this study was provided in parts by the membership of the Nanotribology Laboratory for Information Storage and MEMS/NEMS (NLIM) and Imation Corp.-Advanced Technology Program (Program Manager, Ted Schwarz, Peregrine Technology, St. Paul, MN), National Institute of Science and Technology, as part of Cooperative Agreement 70NANB2H3040. Steve Gavit of Segway Systems, LLC (Littleton, CO) provided the tape drive with single flanged guides with porous air bearings. The authors also express their gratitude to Peter Groel and Jonathan Griffitts (both of Mountain Engineering II, Longmont, CO) and Chris Goldsmith of Accutronics Inc. (Littleton, CO) for fruitful discussions and technical support for the Segway drive. The authors thank Richard E. Jewett and Todd L. Ethen of Imation Corp. for fruitful discussions throughout the study. The authors express their gratitude to Shashank Aggarwal of NLIM for providing the results of FEM of tape slitting.     

Partition of Charpy fracture surface with digital image processing

The fracture surface of a Charpy specimen contains information that can enrich the outcome of the test which at present is only the total energy absorbed. An automatic digital image processing technique based on the Horowitz and Pavlidis (1976) split-and-merge algorithm is proposed for partitioning Charpy fracture surface into regions with clear physical and mechanical meaning. Initial ductile fracture region, brittle zone and post-cleavage ductile shear region can be identified based on their relative brightness. Various geometrical properties of each region can then be easily calculated. The technique has been tested on a group of 773 broken Charpy samples made of TMCR and ship steels. The percentage of crystallinity calculated with the proposed technique agrees reasonably well with that obtained with visual inspection. Finally the potential of the technique and the ambiguity of the partition criterion based on surface light reflectivity are discussed.     

Bone lead levels and lead isotope ratios in red grouse from Scottish and Yorkshire moors

Leg and foot bones of adult and juvenile red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) were collected from hunter-shot birds on two Scottish estates (Glendye and Invermark) and one Yorkshire estate in September, 2003. The lead content of bones was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and corresponding stable lead isotopes (Pb^{204, 206, 207, 208}) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. At the Glendye (N = 111) and Invermark (N = 85) estates, relatively few birds (5.4% and 3.5%, respectively) had highly elevated bone lead concentrations (> 20 µg/g dry weight). In bones of these highly exposed birds, a combination of Pb²⁰⁶:Pb²⁰⁷ and Pb²⁰⁸:Pb²⁰⁷ratios was consistent with ingestion of lead gunshot available in Europe. By contrast, Yorkshire grouse experienced a high incidence (65.8%) of bone lead > 20 µg/g. The Pb²⁰⁶:Pb²⁰⁷ and Pb²⁰⁸:Pb²⁰⁷ratios in bones of these highly exposed birds were consistent with a combined exposure to ingested lead gunshot and lead from galena mining in the region. Lead isotope ratios also indicated that lead from UK gasoline combustion and fallout from atmospheric particles was not a likely source of elevated lead in bones of either Scottish or Yorkshire grouse. Suggested management options for the three moors include adopting nontoxic shot for all game shooting on the estates, allowing heather (Calluna vulgaris) vegetation to grow tall in lead shot fall-out zones to reduce physical access to high densities of lead shot already present, and provision of calcareous grit across moors to reduce lead assimilation from all ingested sources of lead.     

Natural dietary polyphenolic compounds cause endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in rat thoracic aorta

This study investigated the possible active principles which support the endothelial nitric oxide-dependent relaxation produced by red wine and other plant polyphenolic compounds in thoracic aorta from male Wistar rats (12-14 wk old). Relaxation experiments were recorded isometrically on vessels precontracted with norepinephrine. Ten different chromatographic fractions (3-18 mg) isolated from red wine polyphenolic compounds (RWPC) and some available defined polyphenols (10-15 mg) were tested. Fractions enriched into either anthocyanins or oligomeric condensed tannins exhibited endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant activity (maximal relaxation in the range of 59-77%) comparable to the original RWPC. However, polymeric condensed tannins elicited a weaker vasorelaxant activity than the original RWPC (maximal relaxation ranged between 20-47%, P < 0.01). Moreover, the representative of either phenolic acid derivatives (benzoic acid, vanillic acid, gallic acid), hydroxycinnamic acid (p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid) or the flavanol [(+)-epicatechin] classes failed to induce this type of response. Among the anthocyanins, delphinidin (maximal relaxation being 89%), but not malvidin or cyanidin, showed endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. These results show that anthocyanins and oligomeric-condensed tannins exhibited a pharmacological profile comparable to the original RWPC. These compounds may be involved in the reduction of cardiovascular mortality related to the presence of wine, fruits and vegetables in the diet.     

The use of person-organization fit in employment decision making: An assessment of its criterion-related validity.

Because measures of person-organization (P-O) fit are accountable to the same psychometric and legal standards used for other employment tests when they are used for personnel decision making, the authors assessed the criterion-related validity of P-O fit as a predictor of job performance and turnover. Meta-analyses resulted in estimated true criterion-related validities of .15 (k = 36, N = 5,377) for P-O fit as a predictor of job performance and .24 (k = 8, N = 2,476) as a predictor of turnover, compared with a stronger effect of .31 (k = 109, N = 108,328) for the more commonly studied relation between P-O fit and work attitudes. In contrast to the relations between P-O fit and work attitudes, the lower 95% credibility values for the job performance and turnover relations included zero. In addition, P-O fit's relations with job performance and turnover were partially mediated by work attitudes. Potential concerns pertaining to the use of P-O fit in employment decision making are discussed in light of these results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)