A Neural Network Parallel Algorithm for Meeting Schedule Problems

A parallel algorithm for solving meeting schedule problems is presented in this paper where the problem is NP-complete. The proposed system is composed of two maximum neural networks which interact with each other. One is an M × S neural network to assign meetings to available time slots on a timetable where M andS are the number of meetings and the number of time slots, respectively. The other is an M × P neural network to assign persons to the meetings where P is the number of persons. The simulation results show that the state of the system always converges to one of the solutions. Our empirical study shows that the solution quality of the proposed algorithm does not degrade with the problem size.     

Effectiveness of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies prepared for an immunoassay of the etofenprox insecticide

The aim of this study was to compare hemodynamic responses to intubation and pin head-holder application in two groups of neurosurgical patients given oral clonidine (3 microg/kg) or oral temazepam (10-20 mg) 90 min before the induction of anesthesia. Fifty patients undergoing elective craniotomy were randomized to either group. Anesthesia was induced with i.v. propofol 1500 mg/h, fentanyl 4 microg/kg, vecuronium 0.15 mg/kg, and lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg and was maintained with propofol 6 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1). Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate were recorded before the induction of anesthesia and before and after intubation and application of the pin head holder. Interventions required to maintain hemodynamic stability were compared between groups. Preinduction sedation scores and MAP values were similar between groups. MAP was significantly lower (P = 0.031) in the clonidine group after pin head-holder application. Interventions to stabilize MAP were not significantly different between groups (P = 0.11). We conclude that clonidine is effective in reducing the MAP increase with pin head-holder application in patients undergoing craniotomy. Implications: In this study, we investigated an approach to the prevention of increased blood pressure often seen during the early part of anesthesia for brain surgery. Oral clonidine was effective in reducing the mean arterial blood pressure increase resulting from pin head-holder application. Clonidine, a blood pressure-reducing drug, was given to 25 patients before anesthesia. Their blood pressure measurements were then compared with those of 25 patients not given clonidine.     

Characteristics and behavior of the interfacial wave on the liquid film in a vertically upward air-water two-phase annular flow

The behavior of individual interfacial waves on liquid film in vertically upward air-water annular flows has been visualized, observed and analyzed by a pigment luminance method(PLM) which was calibrated with a fiber-optic liquid film sensor. By means of this technique, we distinguished three different types of interfacial waves, i.e. the ripple wave, the ring wave and the disturbance wave. Furthermore we measured the characteristics of these three different kinds of waves, and in particular those of the disturbance wave: i.e. its propagation velocity, its frequency in passing and the distance between two adjacent waves, and then obtained the dependency of these characteristics on the air and water volumetric fluxes j_g and j_l. These results agreed well with the results obtained by other investigators, using an electric needle contact method. A probable mechanism of the occurrence of the ring and the disturbance waves was posited.     

Study of a thick target surface ionizer at INS

A surface-ionization ion source for the use of a thick target has been studied by an isotope separator on-line at INS using the ⁴⁰Ca(p,2pn)³⁸K reaction. The ionization efficiency and release time were measured for CaC₂, CaO and CaF₂ targets. The measured efficiency turned out to be about 20% both for tantalum and platinum surface ionizers. The release time was also deduced for each target at various values of temperature by measuring time distributions of the extracted radioactivity after bombarding the target for a short time.     

Acoustic Location of Fracture Origin in Optical Glass Fibers

During strength measurements on plastic-coated optical glass fibers, the positions of fracture origins were determined by an acoustic technique. For samples other than those in which fracture was initiated at or very near the fixed ends, Weibull plots of the strength data exhibited a single-mode distribution with low variability (m=20 to 25, corresponding to a coefficient of variation of 6.6 to 10.6%).     

ON THE SPECIFIC RESISTANCE OF CAKES OF MICROORGANISMS

The mean specific resistance of the cakes of various microorganisms was evaluated by measurement of either a change in the amount of permeate with time or of steady-state flux under constant pressure. The mean specific resistance was different with different shapes and sizes of microorganisms. The large differences arose from different packing structures of the cake. The effect of a filter aid on the filtration rate and cake structure was studied experimentally and theoretically. The effects of a filter aid were best explained by a series model, in which a cake layer composed of microbial cells and a layer of randomly distributed microbial cells and filter aid are packed on the membrane surface in series with respect to the directions of permeation.     

Development of an on-line stabilization method for local power systems with large-capacity generation plants

This paper presents an on-line stabilization control method developed with the aim of maintaining transient stability in a local power system which includes large-capacity generation plants. The characteristics of this method are that the power/angle curve is estimated from the on line active and reactive power measured at the generator terminal, and the optimum generation shedding for stabilization is determined by applying the equal area method to this curve. Simulation tests using detailed models of the power system confirmed that the optimum generation shedding for stabilization could be computed for various fault conditions, both symmetrical or asymmetrical. It was also determined that the on-line data could be sampled for several tens of milliseconds after clearing the fault. Thus, this method provides effective control logic for practical stabilizing systems.     

H2 sensors using Fe2O3-based thin film

This paper describes the fabrication procedure as well as the sensing properties of new hydrogen sensors using Fe₂O₃-based thin film. The film is deposited by the r.f. sputtering technique; its composition is Fe₂O₃, TiO₂(5 mol%) and MgO(0–12 mol%). The conductance change of the film is examined in various test gases. The sensitivity to hydrogen gas is enhanced by treating the film in vacuum at 550 °C for 4 h and then in air at 700 °C for 2 h. The sputtered film is identified to be polycrystalline -Fe₂O₃ based on X-ray diffraction patterns. However, the surface layer is considered to be changed to Fe₃O₄ after heating in vacuum and then to γ-Fe₂O₃ after heating in air. The film is thus a multilayer one with a thin γ-Fe₂O₃ layer on a -Fe₂O₃ layer. The sensing mechanism is discussed based on measurements of the physical properties of the film, such as the temperature dependence of the sensor conductance, X-ray diffraction pattern, surface morphology, RBS (Rutherford back-scattering) spectrum and optical absorption spectrum.     

A 98 mm2 die size 3.3-V 64-Mb flash memory with FN-NORtype four-level cell

In order to realize high-capacity and low-cost flash memory, we have developed a 64-Mb flash memory with multilevel cell operation scheme. The 64-Mb flash memory has been achieved in a 98 mm² die size by using four-level per cell operation scheme, NOR type cell array, and 0.4-μm CMOS technology. Using an FN type program/erase cell allows a single 3.3 V supply voltage. In order to establish fast programming operation using Fowler-Nordheim (FN)-NOR type memory cell, we have developed a highly parallel multilevel programming technology. The drain voltage controlled multilevel programming (DCMP) scheme, the parallel multilevel verify (PMV) circuit, and the compact multilevel sense-amplifier (CMS) have been implemented to achieve 128 b parallel programming and 6.3 μs/Byte programming speed     

Occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery: detection with MR angiography in healthy volunteers and in a patient with quadrilateral space syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MR angiography in detecting occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery and to determine if the finding is specific for the diagnosis of quadrilateral space syndrome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two-dimensional fast low-angle shot MR angiography was used to image both shoulders of one symptomatic patient and six asymptomatic volunteers (10 posterior humeral circumflex arteries). RESULTS: With the arm in a neutral position, the posterior humeral circumflex arteries appeared normal on MR angiograms of all subjects. However, when the arm was in abduction, occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery was seen both in the symptomatic patient and in 80% of the asymptomatic volunteers. CONCLUSION: Our data show that occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery is common in asymptomatic volunteers. Thus, MR angiography has no value in the diagnosis of quadrilateral space syndrome.