Solving ML equations for 2-parameter Poisson-process models forungrouped software-failure data

Existence conditions are given for maximum likelihood (ML) parameter estimates for several families of 2-parameter software-reliability Poisson-process models. For each such model, the ML equations can be expressed in terms of one equation in one unknown. Bounds are given on solutions to these one equation problems to serve as initial intervals for search algorithms like bisection. Uniqueness of the solutions is established in some cases. Solutions are also tabulated for certain simple cases. Results are given for ungrouped failure data (exact times are available for all failures). ML estimation problems for such a situation are treated as limiting cases of problems based on failure times grouped into intervals of decreasing mesh     

Magnetometer spacing criterion for biomagnetic source currentimaging

A criterion for determining the maximum spacing between magnetometers for measuring the magnetic field is derived. A two-dimensional (2-D) filter model is employed to determine the maximum spatial frequency component present in the magnetic field that is above the spectral noise level. This maximum frequency component is then sampled at a rate greater than twice per period as indicated by the Nyquist criterion, yielding the required magnetometer spacing. It is shown that the rule-of-thumb employed in current clinical biomagnetic array systems, that the spacing between the coils should be approximately equal to the depth of the source, is adequate when the signal-to-noise power ratio is less than 28.4 (14.5 dB). The analysis also quantitatively demonstrates that reducing the separation between the measurement and source planes has a greater effect on the resolution than decreasing the noise level by the same factor. This result is important for employing high T_c superconductor magnetometers that allow thinner thermal insulating layers at the cost of higher thermal noise     

Longitudinal diffusion and resistance to mass transfer as causes of nonideality in chromatography : J. J. van Deemter, F. J. Zuiderweg and A. Klinkenberg, Chem. Engng Sci. 5 271–289, 1956

The sharpness of separation in a gas-liquid chromatographic column is effected by longitudinal molecular diffusion, slowness to reach absorption equilibrium, and by flow irregularities in channels and across the column. The total effect of all these causes can be described by a simple equation which can be derived from the rigorous mathematical solution by introducing reasonable simplifying assumptions.     

Modeling of Diffusion in Capillary Porous Materials During the Drying Process

This paper presents a model of heterogenous diffusion in capillary porous materials during the process of drying. The governing heat and mass transfer equations have been established using the liquid as well as vapor flow. Two models have been presented. Model 1 does not consider the heat conduction while the model 2 has been established by considering the conduction. The developed models and the numerical solutions of the resulting differential equations can take into account the moisture and temperature dependent thermophysical properties of the product. All equations have been established in spherical coordinates but the programme written for the purpose of calculations can be used for other geometries also. Numerical calculations have been performed for gas concrete and tiles using model 1, while model 2 has been used for gas concrete only because of the lack of data for thermophysical properties of the tile. For gas concrete it was seen that conduction has only marginal effect on the drying process and the numerical predictions of the drying process were reasonably accurate.     

硫化铜矿中提取铜的新方法研究

对从硫化铜矿中提取铜的溶剂进行了详细研究，提出了“过硫酸铵－氨水－Ａｇ￣＋”催化、氧化、络合的提取法。     

Polymer networks based on α,ω-methacrylate-terminated poly(1,3-dioxolane)

α,ω-Methacrylate-terminated poly(1,3-dioxolane)s (polyDXL) were synthesized by cationic ring-opening polymerization of DXL in the presence of methylene-bis(oxyethylmethacrylate) as transfer agent. If the initiator concentration is small compared with the transfer agent concentration, the molecular weights of the polymers are governed by the ratio of the reacted monomer to the reacted transfer agent. The α,ω-methacrylate-terminated polyDXLs obtained undergo free radical polymerization with formation of polyacetal networks. The properties of the networks as function of the molecular weight of the corresponding prepolymers are reported.     

Sequence capture-PCR improves detection of mycobacterial DNA in clinical specimens

The rapid identification of mycobacterial DNA in clinical samples by PCR can be useful in the diagnosis of tuberculous infections, but several large studies have found that the sensitivity of this approach is not better than that of culture. In order to improve the sensitivity of detection of mycobacterial DNA in clinical specimens from patients with paucibacillary forms of tuberculosis, we have developed a procedure permitting the specific capture of mycobacterial DNA in crude samples prior to amplification, thereby concentrating the target sequences and removing irrelevant DNA and other potential inhibitors of the amplification reaction (sequence capture-PCR). By using this approach to capture and amplify two different sequences specific for organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (IS6110 and the direct repeat region), it was possible to detect as little as one genome of mycobacterial DNA in samples containing up to 750 micrograms of total DNA, representing a 10- to 100-fold increase in sensitivity compared with that obtained by purifying total DNA prior to amplification. Detection of the IS6110 sequence in pleural fluid samples from patients with tuberculous pleurisy by sequence capture-PCR gave positive results in 13 of 17 cases, including 3 of 3 culture-positive samples and 10 of 14 culture-negative samples. In contrast, when total DNA was purified from these samples by adsorption to a silica matrix prior to amplification, only the three culture-positive samples were positive by PCR. The sensitivity of detection of the direct repeat sequence in these samples by sequence capture-PCR was similar to that of IS6110 and, in addition, permitted immediate typing of the strains from some patients. We conclude that sequence capture-PCR improves the sensitivity of detection of mycobacterial DNA in paucibacillary samples. This approach should be useful in detecting rare target sequences from organisms implicated in other pathologic processes.     

Direct and indirect assessment of skeletal muscle blood flow in patients with congestive heart failure

Techniques which are currently used to measure skeletal muscle blood flow (SMBF) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) are neither convenient nor accurate. They have led to discrepant results in patients with congestive heart failure and are, in part, responsible for the ongoing debate regarding the factors which limit the rise in body oxygen consumption during exercise in these patients. However, direct measurement of SMBF may not be needed during exercise in patients with severe CHF. Their skeletal muscles maximally extract oxygen. Consequently, increase in oxygen consumption by the skeletal muscles is only mediated by a concomitant increase in SMBF. In patients with severe CHF, peak body oxygen consumption attained during maximal exercise closely depends on the rise in SMBF, and thus provides an indirect measurement of SMBF.     

A novel way to treat refractory waste: Sonication followed by wet oxidation (SONIWO)

The effectiveness of the hybrid system sonication followed by wet oxidation (SONIWO) to treat otherwise refractory waste has been demonstrated. In such a hybrid system homogeneous CuSO₄ catalyst was found to be very efficient.     

Tunable wavelength filters based on nonlinear optical interactionsin semiconductor amplifiers

A novel class of narrow-band tunable wavelength filters is proposed and evaluated. Wavelength selectivity of the proposed filters Is derived from the finite time response of an optical nonlinearity. The nonlinearity is gain saturation in semiconductor optical amplifier structures. The filters are shown to have very narrow passbands tunable over the entire semiconductor gain bandwidth. The key to filter implementation is a device configuration in which the wave-mixing products can be isolated from the amplified inputs. Three integrated optics compatible configurations are considered and shown to have high filter throughputs 34 to 180% and subangstrom bandwidths