Thiamine concentrations in lake whitefish eggs from the upper Great Lakes are related to maternal diet

Thiamine deficiency is responsible for reproductive impairment in several species of salmonines in the Great lakes, and is thought to be caused by the consumption of prey containing thiaminase, a thiamine-degrading enzyme. Because thiaminase levels are extremely high in dreissenid mussels, fish that prey on them may be susceptible to thiamine deficiency. We determined thiamine concentrations in lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis eggs from the upper Laurentian Great Lakes to assess the potential for thiamine deficiency and to determine if thiamine concentrations in lake whitefish eggs were related to maternal diet. Mean thiamine concentrations in lake whitefish eggs were highest in Lake Huron, intermediate in Lake Superior, and lowest in Lake Michigan. Some fish had thiamine concentrations below putative thresholds for lethal and sublethal effects in salmonines, suggesting that some larval lake whitefish may currently be at risk of at least sublethal effects of low thiamine concentrations, although thiamine thresholds are unknown for lake whitefish. Egg thiamine concentrations in lake whitefish eggs were statistically significantly related to isotopic carbon signatures, suggesting that egg thiamine levels were related to maternal diet, but low egg thiamine concentrations did not appear to be associated with a diet of dreissenids. Egg thiamine concentrations were not statistically significantly related to multifunction oxidase induction, suggesting that lower egg thiamine concentrations in lake whitefish were not related to contaminant exposure.     

Relationship between the attenuation of downwelling irradiance at 490 nm with the attenuation of PAR (400 nm-700 nm) in the Baltic Sea

The vertical attenuation coefficient of diffuse downwelling irradiance at 490 nm (K_d 490) is a parameter that we routinely derive from SeaWiFS images of the Baltic Sea. Here, through model simulations, we examine the relationship between K_d(490), and the vertical attenuation coefficient of PAR (K_d PAR), as this later coefficient determines the light available for aquatic photosynthesis. A simple semi-analytical model is used to predict K_d(490) and K_d(PAR), as a function of the concentrations of chlorophyll, colored dissolved organic material (CDOM), suspended inorganic, and suspended organic particulate material. A series of model simulations based on variations in these optically significant constituents over a range realistic for the Baltic Sea, are used to define the relationship between the two attenuation coefficients.

Kd(PAR)=0.6677Kd^0.6763(490).     

Priority-based rate control for service differentiation and congestion control in wireless multimedia sensor networks

In wireless multimedia sensor networks (WMSNs) a sensor node may have different types of sensor which gather different kinds of data. To support quality of service (QoS) requirements for multimedia applications having a reliable and fair transport protocol is necessary. One of the main objectives of the transport layer in WMSNs is congestion control. We observe that the information provided may have different levels of importance and argue that sensor networks should be willing to spend more resources in disseminating packets carrying more important information. Some applications of WMSNs may need to send real time traffic toward the sink node. This real time traffic requires low latency and high reliability so that immediate remedial and defensive actions can be taken when needed. Therefore, similar to wired networks, service differentiation in wireless sensor networks is also an important issue. We present a priority-based rate control mechanism for congestion control and service differentiation in WMSNs. We distinguish high priority real time traffic from low priority non-real time traffic, and service the input traffic based on its priority. Simulation results confirm the superior performance of the proposed model with respect to delays, delay variation and loss probability.     

Effectiveness of participatory ergonomic interventions on health outcomes: a systematic review

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of participatory ergonomic (PE) interventions for improving workers' health. The search strategy targeted six electronic databases and identified 442 potential articles. Each article was examined by pairs of reviewers for relevance (assessed a participative ergonomic workplace intervention, with at least one health outcome, published in English in peer reviewed literature). Twenty-three articles met relevance criteria and were then appraised for methodological strength. Using a best evidence synthesis approach, 12 studies that were rated as 'medium' or higher provided partial to moderate evidence that PE interventions have a positive impact on: musculoskeletal symptoms, reducing injuries and workers' compensation claims, and a reduction in lost days from work or sickness absence. However, the magnitude of the effect requires more precise definition.     

Severity of delayed (“secondary”) cerebral energy failure after acute hypoxia-ischemia is related to the time integral of acute ATP depletion

The aim of this study was to reproduce the delayed (secondary) cerebral energy failure previously described in birth-asphyxiated newborn infants and to investigate relationships between primary insult severity and the extent of the delayed energy failure. Phosphorus (³¹P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 7 T was used to study the brains of 12 newborn piglets during an acute, reversible, cerebral hypoxic-ischemic episode which continued until nucleotide triphosphates (NTP) were depleted. After reperfusion and reoxygenation, spectroscopy was continued for 48 h. High-energy metabolite concentrations returned to near normal levels after the insult, but later they fell as delayed energy failure developed. The time integral of NTP depletion in the primary insult correlated strongly with the minimum [phosphocreatine (PCr)]/[inorganic orthophosphate (P_i)] observed 24–48 h after the insult. (Linear regression analysis gave slope –8.04 h^–1; ordinate intercept=1.23;r=0.92;P<0.0001.) This model is currently being used to investigate the therapeutic potential of various cerebroprotective strategies including hypothermia.     

SATCHMORE: SATCHMO with RElevancy

We introduce a relevancy detection algorithm to be used in conjunction with the SATCHMO prover. The version of SATCHMO considered here is essentially a bidirectional prover, utilizing Prolog (back chaining) on Horn clauses and forward chaining on non-Horn clauses. Our extension, SATCHMORE (SATCHMO with RElevancy), addresses the major weakness of SATCHMO: the uncontrolled use of forward chaining. By marking potentially relevant clause head literals, and then requiring that all the head literals be marked relevant (be totally relevant) before a clause is used for forward chaining, SATCHMORE is able to guide the use of these rules. Furthermore, the relevancy testing is performed without extending the proof search beyond what is done in SATCHMO. A simple implementation of the extended SATCHMO can be written in Prolog. We describe our relevancy testing approach, present the implementation, prove soundness and completeness, and provide examples that demonstrate the power of relevancy testing.This research was partially supported by NSF Grants IRI-8805696 and CCR-9116203. This paper is a major revision of Wilson and Loveland (1989).     

Sparse online kernelized actor-critic Learning in reproducing kernel Hilbert space

In this paper, we develop a novel non-parametric online actor-critic reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm to solve optimal regulation problems for a class of continuous-time affine nonlinear dynamical systems. To deal with the value function approximation (VFA) with inherent nonlinear and unknown structure, a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS)-based kernelized method is designed through online sparsification, where the dictionary size is fixed and consists of updated elements. In addition, the linear independence check condition, i.e., an online criteria, is designed to determine whether the online data should be inserted into the dictionary. The RHKS-based kernelized VFA has a variable structure in accordance with the online data collection, which is different from classical parametric VFA methods with a fixed structure. Furthermore, we develop a sparse online kernelized actor-critic learning RL method to learn the unknown optimal value function and the optimal control policy in an adaptive fashion. The convergence of the presented kernelized actor-critic learning method to the optimum is provided. The boundedness of the closed-loop signals during the online learning phase can be guaranteed. Finally, a simulation example is conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented kernelized actor-critic learning algorithm.

     

Design and Configuration Rationales for Digital Video Storage and Delivery Systems

Recent advances in computing technology have brought multimedia information processing to prominence. The ability to digitize, store, retrieve, process, and transport analog information in digital form has changed the dimensions of information handling. Several architectural and network configurations have been proposed for efficient and reliable digital video delivery systems. However, these proposals succeed only in addressing subsets of the whole problem. In this paper, we discuss the characteristics of video services. These include Cable Television, Pay-Per-View, and Video Repository Centers. We also discuss requirements for Video On Demand services. With respect to these video services, we analyze two important video properties: image quality and response time. We discuss and present configurations of a Digital Video Delivery System (DVDS) from three general system components - servers, clients, and connectivities. Pertinent issues in developing each component are also analyzed. We also present an architecture of a DVDS that can support the various functionalities that exist in the various video services. Lastly, we discuss data allocation strategies which impact performance of interactive video on demand (IVOD). We present preliminary results from a study using a limited form of mirroring to support high performance IVOD.     

A Kinetic study of the reaction of zinc oxide with iron powder

Electric arc furnace (EAF) dusts contain significant quantities of zinc, mostly in the form of zinc oxide. This dust has been classified as a hazardous waste due to the presence of lead, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium. It is important that environmentally acceptable processes be developed to treat this waste. One possible alternative process would involve reacting the zinc oxide in the dust with either solid or liquid iron. In addition, in the carbothermic reduction processes, which have been designed to treat the dust, metallic iron is formed, and this iron can participate in the reduction of zinc oxide. In the present research, the reduction of zinc oxide by iron according to the reaction $ZnO_{(s)} + Fe_{(s)} = Zn_{(g)} + FeO_{(s)} $ was studied using a thermogravimetric technique. Briquettes of zinc oxide powder and electrolytic iron were reacted in the temperature range of 1073 to 1423 K in an argon atmosphere. First, a thermodynamic analysis was performed using the Facility for the Analysis of Chemical Thermodynamics (F*A*C*T) computational system, and then the effect of experimental variables on the reaction kinetics was determined. These variables included argon gas flow rate, reaction temperature, reagent particle size, iron to zinc oxide ratio, aspect ratio of the briquette, briquetting pressure, and alkali and alkaline earth additions. It was found that, initially, the reaction was chemically controlled with an activation energy of 230 kJ/mol. Additions, such as sodium chloride and calcium fluoride, promoted the reaction, and the activation energies were 172.5 and 188.7 kJ/mol, respectively. Once a product layer had formed, the reaction was limited by the diffusion of zinc gas away from the reaction interface. The experimental data were fitted to a parabolic rate law, and the parabolic rate constant was found to be $k_p = - 2.47 + 0.0021 T(K)$      

Intelligent planning and the design of a new risk-based,intelligent flight plan

A safe flight starts with effective performance of the pre-flight flight planning and briefing task. However, several problems related to the execution of this task can be identified. Potentially, the introduction of an improved flight plan provides an opportunity to improve the quality and availability of information provided to Flight Crew, thereby enhancing the quality of crew briefings. The proposed risk-based, intelligent flight plan is designed from the perspective of the current operational concept (e.g. fixed routes and ATC managerial role for separation), and associated airline Flight Planning and Dispatch functions. In this case, the focus is sharing information across specific airline stakeholders (e.g. Flight Operations Management and Safety functions) and Maintenance, to support a safe and efficient flight operation. Overall, the introduction of this new flight plan will result in the definition of new operational and organisational processes, along with a new way of performing the pre-flight, planning and briefing task. It is anticipated that this will impact positively on the operational and safety outcome of the flight.