Fuzzy decision tables for expert systems

The use of fuzzy decision tables as a programming language for representing both the knowledge and the procedures in expert systems is discussed. Examples of their use for the generation of procedural code and for the generation of if-then rules are given.     

Ventilatory and arterial blood gas tension adjustments to strenuous exercise in standardbreds

Five healthy, fit Standardbreds (mean +/- SEM, 490.4 +/- 15.0 kg, 4.0 +/- 0.5 years) were studied during a standardized test carried out on a treadmill. The test consisted of an 8-minute warm-up and a 9-minute exercise period (1 minute at 1.7, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 m/s; 2 minutes at 4 m/s; and a 1-minute walk at a 6% slope). Respiratory airflow, tidal volume (V(T)), and respiratory frequency (f) were continuously recorded, using 2 ultrasonic pneumotachographs connected to a face mask and mass spectrometer. Oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, and expired minute volume (V(E)) were obtained on a breath by breath basis. Arterial blood was tested at the end of each step for O2 and CO2 partial pressures. Heart rate was continuously recorded, using a heart rate recording system. Stride frequency was measured at each step, and the stride frequency-to-f ratio was calculated. Venous blood was tested for plasma lactate concentration be fore and 2 minutes after completion of the test. Some horses had a locomotion-respiration coupling (LRC), but this coupling was occasional and intermittent. The f was lower and V(T) was higher than values reported for thoroughbreds working under similar experimental conditions. Nevertheless, maximal V(E) did not overshoot maximal V(E) reported in Thoroughbreds. All horses were hypoxemic and hypercapnic, but there was wide variability between subjects. The horses with the highest oxygen uptake and the lowest plasma lactate concentration were more hypoxemic and hypercapnic. The Standardbreds, studied under our laboratory conditions, did not have constant LRC and had lower f with higher V(T) than did Thoroughbreds under similar experimental conditions. Despite these differences in breathing strategy, the Standardbreds did not have higher V(E) than did Thoroughbreds, and they were hypoxemic and hypercapnic. The fact that these Standardbreds, which obviously freely selected their breathing strategy, were unable or unwilling to adopt compensatory hyperventilation reinforces the hypothesis that, in strenuous exercising horses, there could be a physiologic limit to ventilation, most probably related to mechanical factors, but independent of any LRC.     

Arson detection model

The authors discuss the development of a mathematical model to be utilized for fire scene classification and improved detection of arson. The analysis covers all fires from 1975 to 1979 in Dade County, Florida. Note: This research was supported by Grant No. DF-80-AX-0011 awarded by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration to the Office of the Dade-Miami Justice Council. Points of view or opinions stated in this article are those of the authors and do not represent the official position or policies of L. E. A. A.     

Health effects engineering of coal and biomass combustion particulates: influence of zinc, sulfur and process changes on potential lung injury from inhaled ash

This paper is concerned with health effects of the ash aerosol formed from the co-combustion of municipal sewage sludge (a CO₂ neutral, ostensibly ‘green’ biomass fuel) with pulverized coal. To study, and mitigate, possible lung injury caused by inhalation of these ash particles, it is useful to employ ‘Health Effects Engineering’, which involves collaboration between combustion researchers and toxicologists. Health Effects Engineering attempts to build connections between mechanisms that form particulates during the combustion process and mechanisms that cause these ill health effects. By employing the methods of Health Effects Engineering, one can determine not only which fuel attributes are likely to contribute to lung injury, but also how tendencies of the ash to cause lung injury can be engineered out of the combustion process.Initial results showed that inhalation of ash from the co-combustion of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) and pulverized coal caused much greater lung damage in mice, as measured by lung permeability increase, than that of coal ash, or MSS ash, alone. MSS contains substantial quantities of zinc but little sulfur, while coal contains sulfur but little zinc. Therefore, systematic experiments were conducted to determine the health effects of combustion generated zinc particles and zinc plus sulfur particles. Zinc without sulfur led to ‘normal’ behavior as far as lung permeability was concerned. Zinc with sulfur added led to the ‘abnormal’ behavior noted also in the coal+MSS experiments. Therefore, the bad actor was identified to be zinc together with sulfur, and that was why the co-combustion of coal and MSS caused greater lung injury than the combustion of either fuel alone. Health effects engineering can also be employed to diminish this health risk caused by burning fuels containing both zinc and sulfur. Injection of a kaolinite sorbent downstream of the flame, but above the Zn dew point, can sequester the Zn, and react it to form a new species which was shown to be relatively benign.     

Biodegradability study of copolyesteramides based on diacid chlorides,diamines, and diols

Copolyesteramides were synthesized by polycondensation of diacid chlorides, diamines, and diols of varying methylene group chain length. The composition of the synthesized polymer was determined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The biodegradation of the polymers was evaluated both with enzymatic hydrolysis and activated sludge test. The polymers were hydrolyzed with lipases from Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizopus delemar, Candida cylindracea, and an esterase from hog liver, whereas trypsin and α‐chymotrypsin did not have any apparent effect upon them. Enzymatic hydrolysis was found to be greatly affected by the polymer composition and structure. The degradation results obtained from the activated sludge test were in satisfactory agreement with those from enzymatic hydrolysis. The water‐soluble parts of hydrolyzed products were more susceptible to degradation of their ester bonds rather than their amide bonds. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 774–784, 2002     

Design Optimization of a Portable Thermophoretic Precipitator Nanoparticle Sampler

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are developing methods for characterizing diesel particulate matter in mines. Introduction of novel engine and exhaust aftertreatment technologies in underground mines is changing the nature of diesel emissions, and metrics alternative to the traditional mass-based measurements are being investigated with respect to their ability to capture changes in the properties of diesel aerosols. The emphasis is given to metrics based on measurement of number and surface area concentrations, but analysis of collected particles using electron microscopy (EM) is also employed for detailed particle characterization. To collect samples for EM analysis at remote workplaces, including mining and manufacturing facilities, NIOSH is developing portable particle samplers capable of collecting airborne nano-scale particles. This paper describes the design, construction, and testing of a prototype thermophoretic precipitator (TP) particle sampler optimized for collection of particles in the size range of 1–300 nm. The device comprises heated and cooled metal plates separated by a 0.8 mm channel through which aerosol is drawn by a pump. It weighs about 2 kg, has a total footprint of 27 × 22 cm, and the collection plate size is approximately 4 × 8 cm. Low power consumption and enhanced portability were achieved by using moderate flow rates (50–150 cm³/min) and temperature gradients (10–50 K/mm with ΔT between 8 K and 40 K). The collection efficiency of the prototype, measured with a condensation particle counter using laboratory-generated polydisperse submicrometer NaCl aerosols, ranged from 14–99%, depending on temperature gradient and flow rate. Analysis of transmission electron microscopy images of samples collected with the TP confirmed that the size distributions of collected particles determined using EM are in good agreement with those determined using a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer.

Copyright 2012 American Association for Aerosol Research     

土耳其陶瓷行业概览

土耳其陶瓷行业,于上世纪50年代开始以工业概念投入生产。自80年代以来,稳操迅速发展步伐。90年代开始更引进最先进技术实现了设备现代化。陶瓷行业是大工业一个分支,主要由以下子行业构成,主要为建筑业提供了配套。     

EL7564C的双电压FPGA电源解决方案

概述Xilinx公司的FPGA(现场可编程门阵列)芯片正向高密度化发展,FPGA的内核在提供低成本和高性能的同时还要求低功耗.当今先进的亚微米IC工艺正趋于采用低电压供电,同时这将导致对大电流的不断需求.工程线路板的设计必需满足这类电源供电的需要.     

The ethnic unconscious and its role in transference, resistance, and countertransference: An introduction.

Introduces the Special Section "Ethnicity and psychoanalysis." The authors address how psychoanalytic formulations focus in the main on the study of the individual's internal structure, the study of the mind as a theater of conflict without much concern with the possible influence of ethnic components in psychic structure. Their interest is to extend the study of the mind as a theater of conflict to include the issue of ethnicity and ethnic tension. The authors further discuss providing a psychoanalytic perspective on ethnic tension, the ethnic unconscious, cultural background factors, and the psychological mechanism of ethnic tension in relation to the articles of the special section. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)