Deriving Array Distributions by Optimization Techniques

The paper presents a new method to derive data distributions for parallel computers with distributed memory organization by a mathematical optimization technique. Prerequisites for this approach are a parameterized data distribution and a rigorous performance prediction technique that allows us to derive runtime formulas containing the parameters of the data distribution. A mathematical optimization technique can then be used to determine the parameters in such a way that the total runtime is minimized, thus also minimizing the communication overhead and the load imbalance penalty. The method is demonstrated by using it to determine a data distribution for the LU decomposition of a matrix.     

The Therapeutic Effect of Intranasal Administration of Dexamethasone in Neuroinflammation Induced by Experimental Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important infectious disease and a public health problem. The organs most frequently affected by TB are the lungs; despite this, it has been reported that TB patients suffer from depression and anxiety, which have been attributed to social factors. In previous experimental work, we observed that the extensive pulmonary inflammation characteristic of TB with high cytokine production induces neuroinflammation, neuronal death and behavioral abnormalities in the absence of brain infection. The objective of the present work was to reduce this neuroinflammation and avoid the psycho-affective disorders showed during pulmonary TB. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the first-line treatment for neuroinflammation; however, their systemic administration generates various side effects, mostly aggravating pulmonary TB due to immunosuppression of cellular immunity. Intranasal administration is a route that allows drugs to be released directly in the brain through the olfactory nerve, reducing their doses and side effects. In the present work, dexamethasone’s (DEX) intranasal administration was evaluated in TB BALB /c mice comparing three different doses (0.05, 0.25 and 2.5 mg/kg BW) on lung disease evolution, neuroinflammation and behavioral alterations. Low doses of dexamethasone significantly decreased neuroinflammation, improving behavioral status without aggravating lung disease.     

Application of microfiltration to egg white depleted in ovomucin

Summary An attempt was made to reduce the microbial load of unpasteurized fresh egg white by using cross-flow microfiltration and a Tetra-Laval bactocatch installation. Cross-flow tangential microfiltration of liquid fresh egg white was not feasible as there was irreversible membrane clogging within a few minutes of operation. As membrane clogging could have been caused by ovomucin, this protein was removed from whole fresh egg white by increasing the salt strength and lowering the pH. Ovomucin-depleted egg white (ODEW) was successfully microfiltered on the same membrane. Compared to fresh egg white, ODEW had lower foaming and viscous properties, and these properties remained unchanged after bactofiltration. The reduction of microbial load was, however, relatively low.     

Room-Temperature Degradation of t-Zr(Pr)O2 in an Aqueous Suspension Revealed by Perturbed Angular Correlations

This paper deals with the phase stability of an aqueous suspension of tetragonal Zr_0.9Pr_0.1O₂ (20 wt%/vol%) at room temperature as a function of the aging time. The suspension is investigated in situ using the highly localized Perturbed Angular Correlations technique. The results indicate that an almost fully reversible degradation process toward monoclinic zirconia takes place through a first-order reaction of rate constant k =0.7 day⁻¹. Two successive diffusion mechanisms are observed that are interpreted as OH⁻ ions' migration in the grain surface and then, as proton defects' diffusion into the bulk.     

Crested barrier in the tunnel stack of non-volatile memories

In this work a high-k insulating film is deposited on the SiO₂ tunnel oxide of MOS capacitors designed for non-volatile memory applications. The advantages of this approach derive from the asymmetric band diagram, which lowers the Fowler–Nordheim tunnel erase barrier, without affecting the program operation. This results in lower erase voltage and much shorter erase times. In fact, in the proposed structure the erase voltage is about 20% lower and the erase current three thousands times greater than in conventional MOS with pure-SiO₂ tunnel oxide and the same equivalent oxide thickness (15 nm). At the same time, the larger physical thickness prevents from charge loss, and guarantees data retention. The goal of such device is to improve the memory performances without degrading reliability.     

A Binary Gas Transport Model Improves the Prediction of Mass Transfer in Freeze Drying

Monitoring partial vapor pressure in the freeze-drying chamber is a cheap, global, and non-intrusive way to assess the end of the primary drying stage. Most existing dynamic freeze-drying models which predict this partial pressure describe mass transfer between the product and the condenser via a mass transfer resistance or a mass transfer coefficient. Experimental evidence suggests that such models can be significantly in error for some values of the sublimation flux, leading to physically inconsistent predictions and possibly incorrect assessment of primary drying termination, with potential risk of product damage if moving to secondary drying and increasing shelf temperature while some ice is still present. Assuming a binary gas transport model for vapor and inert gas leads to improved and consistent predictions and explains the apparent variation of the mass transfer resistance with total pressure, shelf temperature, and product sublimation area.     

Morphology of sealant/enamel interface after surface treatment with bioactive glass

The purpose of this study was to analyze, by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the morphology of sealant/enamel interface after surface treatment with Biosilicate. Before pits and fissures sealing, the occlusal surfaces of 10 sound human molars were sectioned perpendicularly at the fissures in order to obtain three slices for each tooth. Slices were randomly assigned into three groups (n = 10) according to sealing protocol: Group 1‐ Acid etching + Biosilicate + glass ionomer‐based sealant (Clinpro XT Varnish, 3M ESPE); Group 2‐ Acid etching + glass ionomer‐based sealant (Clinpro XT Varnish, 3M ESPE); Group 3‐ No sealing. All slices were subjected to thermal cycling (5,000 cycles; 5–55°C; dwell time: 30s). Half of the slices from each group (n = 5) were analyzed by CLSM and the other half by SEM. Groups 1 and 2 were also submitted to EDS analysis and their data were evaluated by Two‐Way ANOVA e Tukey's test (α=5%). EDS data analysis showed higher amounts of silicon (Si) ions than calcium (Ca) ions in Group 1 (P < 0.05); Group 2 presented higher amounts (P < 0.05) of Ca ions than Si ions. It may be concluded that the use of Biosilicate for surface treatment did not affect the morphology of glass ionomer‐based sealant/enamel interfaces. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1062–1068, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Phase-space volume based control of semibatch reactors

We present and apply a control methodology using the divergence of the system as a goal function to control semibatch chemical reactors and show how the process operation may be optimized by only measuring the reactor and jacket temperatures. The implementation of the approach is also demonstrated using phase-space reconstruction techniques. This new control methodology offers a complementary approach to more traditional techniques and it can be easily extended to other industrial installations and processes.     

New Blended Cement from Polishing and Glazing Ceramic Sludge

Waste generated in ceramic tiles manufacturing is not usually recycled inside the productive plant, but rather disposed to landfill. This paper deals with ceramic residues from polishing and glazing processes, as constituents for innovative blended cements. New binders made up of 75% CEM I 52.5 R and 25% residues were chemically, physically, and mechanically characterized with reference to EN 197-1 requirements and the results compared with ordinary Portland cement. Mechanical strength development and microstructure of the relevant mortar have been investigated up to 90 days of curing, and the behavior of polishing and glazing residues as cement constituents is reported.