MOOSE: A parallel computational framework for coupled systems of nonlinear equations

Systems of coupled, nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) often arise in simulation of nuclear processes. MOOSE: Multiphysics Object Oriented Simulation Environment, a parallel computational framework targeted at the solution of such systems, is presented. As opposed to traditional data-flow oriented computational frameworks, MOOSE is instead founded on the mathematical principle of Jacobian-free Newton–Krylov (JFNK). Utilizing the mathematical structure present in JFNK, physics expressions are modularized into “Kernels,” allowing for rapid production of new simulation tools. In addition, systems are solved implicitly and fully coupled, employing physics-based preconditioning, which provides great flexibility even with large variance in time scales. A summary of the mathematics, an overview of the structure of MOOSE, and several representative solutions from applications built on the framework are presented.     

Asking questions changes behavior: Mere measurement effects on frequency of blood donation.

Objective: This research examined the impact of completing a questionnaire about blood donation on subsequent donation behavior among a large sample of experienced blood donors. Design: Participants (N = 4672) were randomly assigned to an experimental condition that received a postal questionnaire measuring cognitions about donation or a control condition that did not receive a questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures: Number of registrations at blood drives and number of successful blood donations were assessed using objective records both 6 months and 12 months later. Results: Findings indicated that, compared to control participants, the mean frequency of number of registrations at blood drives among participants in the experimental group was 8.6% greater at 6 months (p     

Les thérapies féministes: un noveau système psychothérapeutique?

Evaluates the originality and value of 4 principal feminist therapies and theories proposed by I. G. Foder (1974), the Feminist Counseling Collective (1975), B. R. Dubois (1976), and J. B. Miller (1976). Their originality is analyzed by examining the extent to which the theory and the therapy depart from the Freudian, humanist, and behavioral models. Scientific and social criteria are used to assess their value as psychotherapy for women. Analysis suggests that the feminist models studied are not distinct psychotherapeutic systems. Their originality is that they identify the status and roles of women as determinants of women's problems and as essential elements to be worked on in the therapeutic process. Only the model proposed by Fodor is shown to have value both as a theory and a therapy; the weakness of the others is their generality. It is concluded that evaluative research is necessary to assess these new therapies. (70 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rapid determination of chlorobutanol in milk by glass capillary gas chromatography

Summary A rapid method for the determination of chlorobutanol(1,1,1-trichloro-2-methylpropan-2-ol) in milk is described. The method is based on a steam-distillation solvent-extraction technique and a quantitative determination of chlorobutanol by gas chromatography using a glass-capillary column coated with Carbowax 20M and 2,2,2-trichloroethanol as internal standard. The detection limit is 1 pg and recoveries of chlorobutanol are between 93 and 99%. Fifty-two milk samples have been analysed.

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Schnelle Bestimmung von Chlorbutanol in Milch durch Capillargaschromatographie

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine schnelle Methode zum Nachweis von Chlorbutanol (1,1,1,-Trichlor-2-methyl-2-propanol) in Milch beschrieben. Das Verfahren besteht aus einer Destillations-Lösungsmittelextraktions-Technik und einer quantitativen Bestimmung von Chlorbutanol durch Gaschromatographie unter Verwendung einer mit Carbowax 20 M belegten Capillarglaskolonne und 2,2,2,-Trichlorethanol als internen Standard. Die Nachweisgrenze ist 1 pg und die Rückgewinnung von Chlorbutanol liegt zwischen 93 und 99%. Es wurden 52 Milchproben untersucht.

     

Influence of surface pretreatment and electrocoating parameters on the adhesion of cathodic electrocoat to the Al alloy surfaces

Adhesion of cathodic electrocoat films to the aluminum alloys 2024-T3 bare and Alclad 2024-T3 with different pretreatments and with different cathodic electrocoat process parameters was investigated. The pretreatments studied were acetone wipe and alkaline cleaning. The cathodic electrocoat process parameters studied include variation of cathodic electrocoating voltage and time. Adhesion performance was evaluated by measuring the delamination time and percent delamination of the electrocoat from the alloy surface by placing the small specimen of the sample in the N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP) solution at 60°C until the film lifts off or for 2 h whichever comes first. NMP times for electrodeposited film delamination from alkaline cleaned surfaces were found to be higher than the acetone wiped and or those of as-supplied metal surfaces. There was not much effect of acetone cleaning of these alloy surfaces on the adhesion performance of the cathodic electrocoat. The voltage–current (of cathodic electrocoating process) relationships for alkaline cleaned surfaces were also found to be significantly different from the other two types of surfaces. The NMP times of cathodic electrocoat delamination at lower cathodic electrocoating voltage and lower electrocoating times were higher than those at higher cathodic electrocoating voltage and electrocoating times for alkaline cleaned 2024 bare surfaces. Electrocoat thickness developed on the surfaces during the electrodeposition process increased with increasing electrodeposition voltage and time as anticipated.     

Umbilical arterial S-nitrosothiols in stressed newborns: role in perinatal circulatory transition

S-Nitrosothiols are potent endogenous vasodilators recently found to be in greater concentrations in fetal umbilical venous than arterial blood. We hypothesized that neonatal increases in SNOs may be involved in the normal human perinatal circulatory transition. Paired human umbilical artery and vein plasma samples were collected after birth. S-Nitrosothiol concentrations were measured as NO after photolysis--and NO3- after reduction in vanadium chloride--by chemiluminescence. Normal umbilical arterial serum SNO levels were nearly twice those of matched venous samples but were low in infants who did not transition normally to neonatal circulation. There was no difference in the concentration of NO3- between the normal and depressed infants. The parallel failure of some fetuses to switch both to a normal arteriovenous SNO relationship and a normal clinical post-partum state suggests that SNOs may be involved in the perinatal circulatory transition.