Parallel constrained coding with application to two-dimensionalconstraints

A parallel constrained coding scheme is considered where p-blocks of raw data are encoded simultaneously into q tracks such that the contents of each track belong to a given constraint S. It is shown that as q increases, there are parallel block-decodable encoders for S whose coding ratio p/q converges to the capacity of S. Examples are provided where parallel coding allows block-decodable encoders, while conventional coding, at the same rate, does not. Parallel encoders are then applied as building blocks in the construction of block-decodable encoders for certain families of two-dimensional constraints     

The Effect of Stunning Methods on Rigor Mortis and Texture Properties of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar)

Shear force and rigor mortis were used to evaluate the post‐mortem changes of muscle texture in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The fish were either stunned with carbon dioxide (CO₂), electricity, or percussion prior to slaughter. The pre‐mortem stress during CO₂ stunning resulted in an earlier onset and resolution of rigor mortis, and accelerated post‐mortem softening of the muscle tissue as compared to the other stunning methods. No significant differences, either in development of rigor mortis or shear force, were seen between fish that were stunned with electricity or by percussion. Consequently electricity can be used for stunning fish prior to slaughter.     

Generating layouts with non-convex envelopes

This paper presents a model (a development of the RDP model) which enables the generation of layouts with non-convex envelopes, as well as convex ones, according to design requirements.

The possibility of exhausting a great variety of solutions by this model, both with convex and non-convex envelopes, is demonstrated through a case study of planning a dwelling unit with 13 cells.     

Optical properties of amorphous carbon thin films prepared by plasma deposition in a graphite hollow cathode

Carbon films have been produced using a graphite hollow cathode and an r.f. plasma of hydrogen or hydrogen and argon. No hydrocarbon gas was used. The films were subjected to heat treatments up to 700 °C in air. The optical properties of the films were studied using Fourier transform IR, UV-visible, Raman, ellipsometry and photoluminescence techniques before and after the annealing. Films prepared without argon have a narrower band gap and a different photoluminescence response from films prepared with argon. The index of refraction was seen to have values between 1.7 and 2.2 depending on the preparation conditions. The optical band gap of the films was generally greater than 2 eV and the annealing process both increased the gap and reduced the density of states responsible for the large photoluminescence signal.     

Biofiltration of toluene in the absence and the presence of ethyl acetate under continuous and intermittent loading

BACKGROUND: Two peat biofilters were used for the removal of toluene from air for one year. One biofilter was fed with pure toluene and the other received 1:1 (by weight) ethyl acetate:toluene mixture. RESULTS: The biofilters were operated under continuous loading: the toluene inlet load (IL) at which 80% removal occurred was 116 g m^?3 h^?1 at 57 s gas residence time. Maximum elimination capacity of 360 g m^?3 h^?1 was obtained at an IL of 745 g m^?3 h^?1. The elimination of toluene was inhibited by the presence of ethyl acetate. Intermittent loading, with pollutants supplied for 16 h/day, 5 days/week, did not significantly affect the removal efficiency (RE). Biomass was fully activated in 2 h after night closures, but 6 h were required to recover RE after weekend closures. Live cell density remained relatively constant over the operational period, while the dead cell fraction increased. Finally, a 15 day starvation period was applied and operation then re‐started. Performance was restored with similar re‐acclimatization period to that after weekend closures, and a reduction in dead cell fraction was observed. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the capacity of the system to handle intermittent loading conditions that are common in industrial practices, including long‐term starvation. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Substance use escalation and substance use restraint among adolescent children of alcoholics.

Assessed the escalations in substance use over 3 yrs among 246 adolescent children of alcoholics (COAs) and 208 controls (aged 10.5–15.5 yrs). Older COAs showed the steepest escalations in drug use. Younger COAs whose fathers had continuing alcohol-related consequences showed the greatest escalations in alcohol use. Ss' beliefs about drinking restraint were related to their alcohol and drug use. Those whose alcoholic fathers had no continuing alcohol-related consequences showed the strongest relations between substance use and self-control reasons for limiting drinking, perceived risk for future drug problems, and seeing the negative effects of alcohol on someone else. These adolescents may be deterred from substance use escalations because of particular parental characteristics (e.g., mild forms of paternal alcoholism) or because of their beliefs about substance use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measuring the errors of form of industrial surfaces: prediction and optimization

To acquire maximum information on the geometrical errors of industrially made surfaces at a minimum cost, a method for estimating conditional probabilities of a random signal (Bayesian prediction) is applied to three-dimensional metrology. First, a surface is interpolated between data acquired on a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). Then, for a given probability, limit surfaces are computed that bind a region of space containing the known data and the most probable interpolation of the missing data of the surface. These bounds can be treated as the surface; their points can be considered as if they were actual CMM data when fitting a tolerance zone or a datum feature to the data. For Bayesian prediction, the basic hypotheses on the signal are stationarity, ergodicity, and gaussian density. Deviations from these hypotheses and their consequences on the prediction are taken into account and corrections are proposed.     

Renal osteodystrophy in diabetic patients

To assess the effects of diabetes mellitus on renal osteodystrophy, we examined the database of 256 patients (45% on hemodialysis and 55% on peritoneal dialysis) who were prospectively studied in three Toronto dialysis centers between October of 1987 and 1989. All patients had serial documentation of their clinical, laboratory and risk parameters of bone disease, and completed a series of investigations that included the deferoxamine test, measurement of intact 1-84 PTH levels, and an iliac crest bone biopsy. Twenty-five percent of these patients were diabetic. When compared to non-diabetic patients, they were on dialysis for a shorter duration (2.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 4.7 +/- 0.3 years; P < 0.0002), used calcium carbonate as the only phosphate binder more frequently (40 vs. 25%; P < 0.007), and had lower parathyroid hormone levels (12 +/- 1.4 vs. 24 +/- 2.3 pmol/liter; P < 0.002). High-turnover bone disorders (that is, osteitis fibrosa and mixed disorder) were distinctly uncommon (8 vs. 33%; P < 0.01 by Fisher's exact test), while the mild (19 vs. 9%; P = NS) and the aplastic disorders (with mean stainable bone surface aluminum of 6.5 +/- 0.7%) (46 vs. 31%; P = NS) tended to be more common in diabetic patients. The prevalence of aluminum bone disease was the same in both groups (27%). Diabetic patients ingested a smaller cumulative dose of aluminum gels (3.7 +/- 0.6 vs. 9.3 +/- 1.1 kg; P < 0.005), yet had a higher rate of aluminium accumulation on bone surfaces than non-diabetic patients (1.5 +/- 0.19 vs. 0.96 +/- 0.10% per month on dialysis; P < 0.015).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)