Molecular dynamics study on external field induced crystallization of amorphous argon structure

A molecular dynamics study has been conducted on an external-force-field-induced isothermal crystallization process of amorphous structures as a new low-temperature athermal crystallization process. An external cyclic-force field with a dc bias is imposed on molecules selected randomly in an amorphous-phase of argon. Multiple peaks smoothed out in the radial distribution functions for amorphous states appear very clearly during the crystallization process that cannot be achieved otherwise. When the amorphous material is locally exposed to an external force field, crystallization starts and propagates from the interfacial region and crystallization growth rates can be estimated.     

An experimental study on the axial collapse characteristics of hat and double hat shaped section members at various velocities

In this study, the axial collapse tests were performed under either static (or quasi-static) or impact loads with several collapse velocities based on the expectation that para-closed sections of the front-end side members (spot welded hat and double hat shaped section members) would show quite different collapse characteristics from those for seamless section. The test results showed that both of the hat and double hat shaped section members failed in the stable sequential collapse mode in the static or quasi-static collapse tests, while the double hat shaped section members underwent the unstable collapse mode especially when the impact velocity is high. The mean collapse loads in the hat shaped section members increase with collapse velocity for all the cases of the static, quasi-static, and impact collapse tests. In the double hat shaped section members, however, the mean collapse loads decrease with increase in collapse velocity in the impact tests.     

Common stresses affecting activated sludge health and performance--what the four-assay set can tell us.

Previously, we developed a novel biological early warning (BEW) system for directly monitoring the health and performance of activated sludge, the "four-assay set". In the present work, the four-assay set has been used to measure the effects of four common stresses on activated sludge biomass: high temperature; pH; anoxia; and starvation. The results demonstrate both the utility of the Paprican four-assay set as a biomass-evaluating and BEW tool, and the tolerances of a typical kraft mill activated sludge for these four stresses.     

Electrochemical detection of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) using a glassy carbon electrode

A method for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA) was developed using square wave anodic stripping voltammetric (SWASV) analysis with a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The results indicated a sensitive oxidation peak current of AA on the GCE. A linear curve was obtained within a concentration range of 1-130.0 microg/L with a preconcentration time of 270 s. The relative standard deviation of 30.0 microg/L observed was 0.1016% (n = 12) under optimum conditions. The low detection limit (S/N) was pegged at 0.30 microg/L. Results showed that the method developed can be used to assay biological and pharmaceutical samples, and food samples, as well as other materials requiring AA analyses.     

Oral absorption and pharmacokinetics of rebamipide and rebamipide lysinate in rats

Rebamipide is an anti-ulcer agent exhibiting a low aqueous solubility and a poor oral bioavailability. This study was conducted to examine if the rebamipide lysinate salt form would exhibit improved solubility profiles and higher oral bioavailability compared with rebamipide free acid. Both compounds showed pH-dependent solubility profiles, with the solubility of rebamipide lysinate dramatically improved at a median pH of 5.1 (17-fold increases) over free acid, but the improvement in the solubility was not as pronounced in artificial gastric and intestinal fluids (1.4- and 1.9-fold increases, respectively). The Cl, V_ss and t_1/2 in rats after i.v. injection of rebamipide (0.5 mg/kg) averaged 21.0 ± 3.2 ml/min/kg, 0.3 ± 0.0 L/kg, and 0.4 ± 0.1 hr, respectively. No significant difference was observed in these parameters between rebamipide and rebamipide lysinate. Despite improved solubility profiles, the absolute oral bioavailability of rebamipide lysinate was not increased (5.1 vs. 4.8%) nor did AUC (407.8 vs. 383.6 ng^.hr/ml) and C_max (87.4 vs.77.0 ng/ml) compared with rebamipide free acid. Rebamipide lysinate, however, showed a more rapid absorption, and initial serum drug concentrations were higher than those found for rebamipide free acid.     

Effects of PVA sponge containing chitooligosaccharide in the early stage of wound healing

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) sponges with different chitooligosaccharide (COS) content were prepared for wound-dressing application. The morphological structure of PVA sponges was observed by scanning electron microscopy. As the concentration of COS-loaded PVA sponge increased, the average pore size of sponge decreased and the release rate of COS from the sponge also slightly decreased. The accelerating effect of the COS-loaded PVA sponges on open wound healing in rats was investigated by macroscopic examination and measurement of wound area. The COS-loaded sponges were found to be very effective as a wound-healing accelerator in the early stage of wound healing. The wound treated with the COS-loaded PVA sponge was almost reepithelialized, granulation tissues in the wound were considerably replaced by fibrosis at 8 days after initial wounding. The COS-loaded PVA sponge was considered to be a suitable wound-healing formulation due to its easy preparation and high effectiveness.     

Pre-equating: a simulation study based on a large scale assessment model

Although post-equating (PE) has proven to be an acceptable method in the scaling and equating of items and forms, there are times when the turn-around period for equating and converting raw scores to scale scores is so small that PE cannot be undertaken within the prescribed time frame. In such cases, pre-equating (PrE) could be considered as an acceptable alternative. Assessing the feasibility of using item calibrations from the item bank (as in PrE) is conditioned on the equivalency of the calibrations and the errors associated with it vis a vis the results obtained via PE. This paper creates item banks over three periods of item introduction into the banks and uses the Rasch model in examining data with respect to the recovery of item parameters, the measurement error, and the effect cut-points have on examinee placement in both the PrE and PE situations. Results indicate that PrE is a viable solution to PE provided the stability of the item calibrations are enhanced by using large sample sizes (perhaps as large as full-population) in populating the item bank.     

Taking the load off: investigations of how adaptive cruise control affects mental workload

It has been posited that Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) represents a new generation of vehicle automation, in that it has the potential to relieve drivers of mental as well as physical workload. The results of previous research however, have raised some confusing issues about the specific effects of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on driver mental workload (MWL)--some studies report reduced MWL compared to manual driving, while others find no effect. Two hypotheses are proposed in an attempt to explain these discrepancies: (a) that any potential MWL reductions due to ACC could be masked by the overriding influence of steering demand; or (b) that the tasks designed in some experiments do not exploit the adaptive nature of the ACC system, therefore precluding any potential benefits. Two related experiments were designed to test these hypotheses. It was found that the main reason for the discrepant findings was the nature of the driving task chosen--constant-speed tasks do not realise the mental workload benefits of ACC. Future researchers using ACC devices are advised to use variable-speed tasks to ensure that all aspects of device functionality are covered.     

Relationship analysis in requirements engineering

This research addresses a major shortcoming in todays requirements analysis techniques—the lack of a rigorous and comprehensive process to explicitly capture the relationship structure of the problem domain. Whereas other analysis techniques lightly address the relationship discovery process, relationship analysis (RA) is a systematic, domain-independent analysis technique focusing exclusively on a domains relationship structure. This paper describes RAs taxonomy of relationship types and corresponding brainstorming questions for eliciting the relationship structure from a domain expert. A preliminary case study analysis of online bookstores using RA as well as a formal experiment have both confirmed RAs effectiveness in helping the analyst produce significantly higher quality requirements. RA should become an invaluable tool for analysts, irrespective of the software engineering approach taken during systems analysis.