The ASDEX upgrade digital video processing system for real-time machine protection

This paper describes the design, implementation, and operation of the Video Real-Time (VRT) diagnostic system of the ASDEX Upgrade plasma experiment and its integration with the ASDEX Upgrade Discharge Control System (DCS). Hot spots produced by heating systems erroneously or accidentally hitting the vessel walls, or from objects in the vessel reaching into the plasma outer border, show up as bright areas in the videos during and after the reaction. A system to prevent damage to the machine by allowing for intervention in a running discharge of the experiment was proposed and implemented. The VRT was implemented on a multi-core real-time Linux system. Up to 16 analog video channels (color and b/w) are acquired and multiple regions of interest (ROI) are processed on each video frame. Detected critical states can be used to initiate appropriate reactions – e.g. gracefully terminate the discharge. The system has been in routine operation since 2007.     

Eine Anmerkung zur exakten Nachbildung von Aktienindizes mittels einer Multiplikator-Rundungsmethode

Um einen Aktienindex exakt nachzubilden, mu? man die Gewichtungsfaktoren des Indexes mit dem gewünschten Index-Vielfachen multiplizieren und erh?lt so die Anzahlen der jeweils zu haltenden Aktien. Rundet man diese Anzahlen auf herk?mmliche Art, so weicht man vom gewünschten Nachbildungsergebnis h?ufig weiter als n?tig ab. In dieser Arbeit wird ein leicht zu implementierender Algorithmus vorgestellt, der dieses Problem auf Basis einer Multiplikator-Rundungsmethode l?st. Als konkretes Anwendungsbeispiel wird gezeigt, wie man dieses Verfahren beim Nachbilden des Deutschen Aktien-Indexes (DAX) anwenden kann. Dabei finden auch im Xetra-Handel übliche Stückzahlrestriktionen Berücksichtigung. Der Algorithmus reduziert den Nachbildungsfehler und damit auch den daraus resultierenden Tracking-Error auf einen Bruchteil des Wertes, den man bei herk?mmlicher Rundung erh?lt.     

Microenvironment of the high affinity ATP-binding site of Na+/K+-ATPase is slightly acidic

Fluorescein-5'-isothiocyanate (FITC) was used to study the high-affinity ATP-binding site of Na+/K+-ATPase. The molar ratio of specifically bound FITC per alpha-subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase was found to be 0.5 as followed from pretreatment experiments with another specific E1ATP-inhibitor Cr(H2O)4AdoPP[CH2]P. This indicated an existence of one high affinity ATP-binding site (E1ATP-binding site) in the native (alphabeta)2-diprotomer of Na+/K+-ATPase. Fluorescence dual-excitation ratio of specifically bound FITC revealed that at external pH 7.5, the pH value inside the E1ATP-binding site is 6.95 +/- 0.18. In addition, FITC fluorescence quenching by anti-fluorescein and by iodide choline indicated the limited access of water into the small pocket of the E1ATP-binding site.     

Economic Analysis of Thermal Energy Storage Systems

This paper describes an investigation of the economic performance of a central chiller plant with thermal energy storage (TES) operating in a hotel in California and an office building in Wisconsin for the following three conventional control strategies: chiller-priority, constant-proportion, and storage-priority control. Since all control strategies depend on properly selected design parameters, the storage and chiller capacities as the primary design parameters were varied over a wide range, and the life-cycle economic feasibility of each possible design was assessed over a 20-year economic life using the net present value method. Measured cooling and weather data for both buildings were used in annual calculations to determine annual utility cost savings on the basis of one of four artificial rate structures. Trends in the life-cycle economic performance of TES systems as a function of chiller and storage capacities were revealed, and design guidelines were developed.     

一种用于线阵列系统极性测试的可靠方法

一组线阵列系统的性能在很大程度上取决于其扬声器的正确安装。例如,一个极性错误的单体扬声器可能会明显地影响整个系统的声压和指向性。然而,这种错误的鉴定非常耗时。因此,这就需要一种快速同时又可靠的方法来找出这样的线阵元素。介绍了一种怎样一步一步来检查一个完整的线阵列系统的方法,同时,还能找出引起极性问题的原因。除了理论背景,还描述了一个实际应用的成功案例。     

CRITICAL CRACK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE FOR HIGH PRESSURE STEAM TURBINE ROTORS

Abstract A critical crack assessment procedure for high pressure steam turbine rotors is introduce and applied. The processes relating to low-cycle thermal fatigue (LCTF), high-cycle fatigue (HCF) and creep are considered and the critical crack length is determined in accordance with its shape and position, based on a linear elastic fracture mechanics criterion. Taking this critical crack length as the final value, two mechanisms of crack growth are analysed, LCTF and creep, with the aim of defining the initial value of crack length. Alternatively, LCTF and creep are analysed as crack initiation processes with the aim of defining the appropriate time and number of cycles which can be used in relation to crack growth. The worst-case materials data are used in order to obtain a conservative estimation of the critical crack length. The procedure is also applicable, directly or modified, to other power plant components, e.g. intermediate and low pressure rotors, steamlines and castings.     

A formal method for synthesizing optimized protocol converters and its application to mobile data networks

As mobile information networks are expanding rapidly, we expect to integrate voice, paging, electronic mail and other wireless information services. Interworking units that perform protocol conversion at the boundaries of different networks will play an important role. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm for constructing optimized protocol converters to achieve interoperability between heterogeneous data networks. This algorithm first derives constraints from two given protocols, and apply the constraints to channel specifications, thus removing message sequences that do not contribute to system progress. Then, an optimized converter is generated from a given service specification, the two protocol specifications and the modified channel specifications. A reduction relation is used to compare the service specification and the constructed internetworking system in order to deal with the problem of nondeterministic services. Compared with related works, our method has two advantages: (1) it generates an optimized converter; (2) it can be applied to the case that the service specification is nondeterministic. The application of the method to mobile networks is given by an example. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A theory of industry-level activity for understanding the adoption of interorganizational systems

Increasingly we wish to ask and research questions about the adoption of interorganizational systems and electronic commerce at the industry level but are hampered by the lack of a theory of concerted purposeful action at this large level of analysis. In this paper we give the outlines of such a theory and indicate the uses to which it can be put. Particular attention is paid to how the routine day-to-day activities of the firms and support organizations that make up an industry group can be coordinated in such a way that we can speak of an industry as engaged in purposeful activity. We contend that only through a deep understanding of the possibilities and nature of routine coordinated activity at this level can issues concerning promotion, implementation and adoption of interorganizational systems by whole industries be properly framed.     

Bistability and hysteresis in the organization of apparent motion patterns.

In a paradigm for which 2 distinct patterns are perceived for the same stimulus, perceptual hysteresis (persistence of a percept despite parameter change to values favoring the alternative pattern) and temporal stability (persistence despite intrinsic propensities toward spontaneous change) are interdependent. Greater persistence during parameter change reduces temporal stability, slowing the rate of parameter change reduces hysteresis by increasing opportunity for spontaneous change, and increasing temporal stability (by enlarging the stimulus) increases hysteresis. Hysteresis results in the perception of parametrically disfavored patterns; a parameter can influence a percept without specifying it. The visual system thus exhibits time-dependent behavior analogous to dynamical behavior observed in other systems, both physical and biological, for which there is competition among alternative patterns that vary in relative stability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)