Resolution of ambiguity in parsing

Summary The use of context-free grammars to define the syntax of programming languages is complicated by the phenomenon of ambiguity. Ambiguity can be resolved by the specification of a unique canonical parse. A set of rules is given which defines a canonical bottom-up parse, and these rules are implemented in a left-to-right bottom-up parsing algorithm. A second set of rules is given which defines a canonical top-down parse, and these rules are similarly implemented in a left-to-right top-down parsing algorithm.     

Characterization of used frying oils. Part 1: Isolation and identification of compound classes

In this study, an analytical scheme is presented for detailed qualitative comparisons between heated and unheated oils. This scheme is less subject to loss or alteration of sample components when compared with methods that characterize the distillable non-urea adducting portion of heated oils. In this work, oils were first converted to their corresponding fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by transesterification. These FAMEs were then separated by degree of polarity by means of adsorption chromatography and solid-phase extraction. High-resolution capillary gas and liquid chromatography were used to profile isolated fractions. Mass spectrometric and infrared analyses of major chromatographic features were used to identify the presence of aldehydes, epoxides, ketones, alcohols, phytosterols and dimer methyl esters down to 5 ppm in the original sample.     

An analysis of the effects of sample size on classification performance of a histogram based cluster analysis procedure

A non-parametric unsupervised program was developed to identify clusters in multidimensional data by mode analysis using histograms. An implicit assumption in the histogram approach is that a relatively large number of samples is required to insure an accurate classification. Tests with randomly generated data show that the assumption is not true, i.e. a small number of samples does not necessarily result in a poor classification, nor does a relatively large number of samples guarantee the best classification. The histogram classifier was compared to two parametric classifiers, maximum likelihood and K-means clustering. Results from timing the classifiers show that, although the parametric classifiers are more efficient for a small number of samples, the histogram approach uses less CPU time for a large number of samples.     

Prospects for aberration corrected electron precession

Recent developments in aberration control in the TEM have yielded a tremendous enhancement of direct imaging capabilities for studying atomic structures. However, aberration correction also has substantial benefits for achieving ultra-resolution in the TEM through reciprocal space techniques. Several tools are available that allow very accurate detection of the electron distribution in surfaces allowing precise atomic-scale characterization through statistical inversion techniques from diffraction data. The precession technique now appears to extend this capability to the bulk. This article covers some of the progress in this area and details requirements for a next-generation analytical diffraction instrument. An analysis of the contributions offered by aberration correction for precision electron precession is included.     

Freeze-substitution techniques for preparing nematodes for scanning electron microscopy

The effect of different substitution times, temperatures and the incorporation of fixatives on the preservation of three species of nematode for scanning electron microscopy by freeze substitution with methanol, followed by critical point drying, is investigated. Hammerschmidtiella diesingi adults and Trichostrongylus colubriformis infective juveniles were successfully preserved using methanol at 253 K as the substitution medium. Preservation deteriorated with long substitution times, suggesting the extraction of material and that substitution times should be kept as brief as possible. Panagrolaimus davidi was not successfully preserved using pure methanol, but preservation was improved by using fixatives in the substitution medium, the best results being obtained with 1% OsO₄/3% glutaraldehyde in methanol. A substitution temperature of 193 K did not give any improvement in preservation. The differences in the quality of preservation between the three species may be due to the relative ability of the cuticle to withstand collapse during critical point drying. Chemical fixation using cold fixative resulted in the retention of a natural posture but poor preservation, whereas hot fixatives resulted in good preservation but the loss of a natural posture. Freeze substitution in methanol may prove useful in the preparation of specimens possessing cuticles or cell walls which have sufficient strength to withstand the drying process (e.g. arthropods, plants, fungi, nematodes). More delicate specimens may require the incorporation of fixatives into the substitution medium or conventional fixation.     

A quantitative analysis of the cone-angle dependence in precession electron diffraction

Precession electron diffraction (PED) is a technique which is gaining increasing interest due to its ease of use and reduction of the dynamical scattering problem in electron diffraction. To further investigate the usefulness of this technique, we have performed a systematic study of the effect of precession angle on the mineral andalusite where the semiangle was varied from 6.5 to 32 mrad in five discrete steps. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal conditions for the amelioration of kinematically forbidden reflections, and the measurement of valence charge density. We show that the intensities of kinematically forbidden reflections decay exponentially as the precession semiangle () is increased. We have also determined that charge density effects are best observed at moderately low angles (6.5–13 mrad) even though PED patterns become more kinematical in nature as the precession angle is increased further.     

Micro- and Nano-scale Tribo-Corrosion of Cast CoCrMo

Previous studies have established that some of the wear damage seen on cast CoCrMo joint surface is caused by entrained third-body hard particles. In this study, wet-cell micro-indentation and nano-scratch tests have been carried out with the direct aim of simulating wear damage induced by single abrasive particles entrained between the surfaces of cast CoCrMo hip implants. In situ electrochemical current noise measurements were uniquely performed to detect and study the wear-induced corrosion as well as the repassivation kinetics under the micro-/nano-scale tribological process. A mathematical model has been explored for the CoCrMo repassivation kinetics after surface oxide film rupture. Greater insights into the nature of the CoCrMo micro-/nano-scale wear-corrosion mechanisms and deformation processes are determined, including the identification of slip band formation, matrix/carbide deformation, nanocrystalline structure formation and strain-induced phase transformation. The electrochemical current noise provides evidence of instantaneous transient corrosion activity at the wearing surface resulting from partial oxide rupturing and stripping, concurrent with the indent/scratch.     

A quantitative assessment of innervation in the conduction system of the calf heart

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present investigation was to determine the relative distribution of autonomic and sensory nerves in the cardiac conduction tissues of calves. METHODS: A quantitative immunohistochemical and histochemical technique was adopted. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity to the general neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) demonstrated that all regions of the conduction system possessed a higher relative density of total nerves when compared with the surrounding myocardial tissues. Unlike myocardial innervation, the conduction system did not display an atrial-to-ventricular gradient in nerve density. PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve trunks and varicose nerve fibres were more numerous in the transitional atrioventricular node and the penetrating atrioventricular bundle than in either the sinus node, compact atrioventricular node, or bundle branches. The Purkinje network of the ventricular conduction tissues possessed a rich supply of PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve trunks and varicose nerve fibres. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive nerves were the main subtype identified in the sinus and atrioventricular nodes and in the ventricular conduction tissues, representing 50-80% of the area occupied by PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerves. The compact atrioventricular node possessed AChE-positive and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive nerves in similar proportions (45%), although, in general, TH-immunoreactive nerves had a lower relative nerve density than AChE-positive nerves. Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive nerves represented the main peptide-containing subpopulation and occurred throughout the conduction system, displaying a similar pattern of distribution and relative density to those demonstrating TH immunoreactivity. Nerve fibres immunoreactive for somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P, and calcitonin gene-related peptide formed relatively minor subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS: The general innervation of the bovine conduction tissues exhibits significant regional variation. Throughout all regions of the conduction system, AChE-positive nerve represented the dominant subtype when compared with TH- and NPY-immunoreactive nerves. The distribution and relative density of nerve subtypes in the tissues of the bovine conduction system are similar to those observed in man, whereas differences were observed in other regions, such as the atrioventricular bundle and bundle branches. This finding must be considered by those making interspecies comparisons.