Text processing system

An economical microprocessor-based text processing system utilizing recently available low cost digital data recorders is described. Ordinary audiocassettes are used to store both text and data and as such the technique should appeal to computer hobbyists as well as manufacturers of VDUs and word processing equipment.     

Stacking faults in sic particles and their effect on the fracture behavior of a 15 Vol Pct SiC/6061-AI matrix composite

Mechanical tests and microstructural examinations performed on a SiC-particle-reinforced 6061-A1 matrix composite indicate that particle cracking during mechanical testing significantly affects the failure mechanisms of the composite. Microcracks were observed to nucleate and propagate on stacking faults and interfaces between the 4H (or 3C) and 6H hexagonal phases within the SiC particle reinforcements. These planar defects were the predominant defects seen in the SiC particles. Partial dislocations, having a 1/3 (10άrc10) Burgers vector, were also observed bounding the stacking faults in the reinforcement phase.     

Self-organizing map network as an interactive clustering tool — An application to group technology

The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) network, a variation of neural computing networks, is a categorization network developed by Kohonen. The theory of the SOM network is motivated by the observation of the operation of the brain. This paper presents the technique of SOM and shows how it may be applied as a clustering tool to group technology. A computer program for implementing the SOM neural networks is developed and the results are compared with other clustering approaches used in group technology. The study demonstrates the potential of using the Self-Organizing Map as the clustering tool for part family formation in group technology.     

Regulation of beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA and gene transcription in rat C6 glioma cells: effects of agonist, forskolin, and protein synthesis inhibition

The human CDX1 gene has been isolated from a small intestine cDNA library using a murine Cdx1 cDNA probe. The nucleotide sequence of CDX1 is 81% identical to murine Cdx1 and predicts a 265-amino-acid protein with 85% identity to the mouse protein (98% identity, including conservative amino acid changes). The CDX1 locus has been mapped to a cosmid contig from chromosome 5q31-q33, placing CDX1 approximately 100 kb distal to CSFIR. Expression of CDX1 in adults appears to be limited to the intestine and colon by Northern analysis, suggesting a possible role in the terminal differentiation of the intestine. Further analysis of CDX1 should elucidate the function of caudal-type homeobox genes in human development.     

Residues of DDT and HCH in wheat samples collected from different states of India and their dietary exposure: A multicentre study

Under a multicentre study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, 1712 samples of wheat grain/flour were collected from urban and rural areas in 11 states representing different geographical regions of India. These samples were analysed for residues of DDT (2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloro ethane) and different isomers of HCH (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachloro cyclohexane, a mixture of isomers) by gas-liquid chromatography. Residues of DDT were detected in 59.4% of 1080 samples of wheat grain and in 78.2% of 632 samples of wheat flour. Different isomers of HCH were present in about 45-80% of the samples of wheat grain/flour. Medians of DDT and total HCH, respectively, for pooled samples of wheat grain were 0.013 and 0.035 mg kg^-1, while those for wheat flour were 0.01 and 0.02 mg kg^-1. Estimated daily intakes of DDT and different isomers of HCH through the consumption of wheat contaminated at their median and 90th percentiles constituted a small proportion of their acceptable daily intakes. Amongst the pesticide residues analysed, statutory maximum residue limits have been fixed only for γ-HCH in wheat in India, as 0.1 mg kg^-1 in wheat grain and zero in wheat flour. Residue levels of γ-HCH exceeded these maximum residue limits in five of 1080 samples of wheat grain and in 340 of 632 samples of wheat flour. The failure to meet the requirement of the γ-HCH maximum residue limit in large number of wheat flour samples was attributed to the fixation of practically unachievable zero limit. Comparing the previous studies and the present one, the levels of residues of DDT and HCH in wheat were significantly decreased.     

Lotsizing in Multi-Item Multi- Machine Job Shops

A great many manufacturing facilities can be described as closed job shops which process multiple items through multiple work centers for stock or for assembly. The performance of these shops is strongly dependent on the batching policies employed for work in the shop. In particular, waiting time in queue and total manufacturing lead time for batches are functions of lotsizes. In turn these affect work-in-process costs, safety stock requirements, schedule performance and part coordination for assembly. The relationship between lot-sizing and shop performance is represented using a queueing network model which is then embedded in an optimization routine that searches for optimal lot sizes.     

An APL implementation of level 2 core graphics system

The graphics community is recently taking a close look at graphics standardization prompted by issues such as portability of software, application program structure, diverse hardware, etc. Through these efforts, the Graphic Standards Planning Committee of ACM/SIGGRAPH has proposed a standard. This standard advocates four levels of the Core system, namely basic, buffered, interactive and complete. This paper describes a Level 2 (i.e. buffered) implementation of the Core system in APL, referred to as 0SCUBA (APL BUffered Core System). The details of the structure and organization of 0SCUBA are given. The implementation is highly modular in nature, provides both two and three dimensional capabilities with several types of projective transformations and supports full segmentation capabilities. Several examples illustrating the use of the system are included. The interactive nature of APL is found to be attractive. Some deviations from the Core system have been incorporated. These include a modular hardcopy interface to produce graphics on plotters etc. and a facility to retain world coordinates of the objects. The system, though appearing to be satisfactory, has to undergo further testing to gain user confidence.