Prediction of fatigue screw loosening in anterior spinal fixation using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

STUDY DESIGN: A biomechanical study was performed to investigate a relation between the bone mineral density of the vertebral body and the number of loading cycles to induce fatigue loosening of an anterior vertebral screw. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the potential usefulness of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of measuring bone mineral density of the vertebral body in predicting the fatigue loosening of th anterior vertebral screw. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Loosening of the vertebral body screw is a well know failure in spinal instrumentation, and more commonly observed than pullout failure. The relation between bone mineral density and pullout strength of the screw has been investigated previously, but no studies are available on the fatigue loosening in anterior spinal fixation. METHODS: Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and the screw loosening was produce by a cyclic loading in the cephalad-caudal direction. Screw loosening was defined as 1 mm displacement of the screw relative to bone, and the number of loading cycles to induce the screw loosening was obtained and statistically correlated with bone mineral density. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the number of loading cycles to induce screw loosening and bone mineral density (R = 0.8, P < 0.01). The average number of loading cycles to induce screw loosening was significantly less for specimens with bone mineral density < 0.45 g/cm2 compared to those with bone mineral density > or = g/cm2. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that bone mineral density may be a good predictor of anterior vertebral screw loosening. Bone mineral density < 0.45 g/cm2 may be critical value of loosening of the anterior vertebral body screw. However, further biomechanical and clinical studies are required before using threshold value clinically.     

Optimisation of enhancement layer DCT coefficients in MPEG-2 SNRscalable video

The authors describe an optimisation algorithm which can be applied to two-layer SNR scalable MPEG-2 video coding, such that bandwidth efficiency is achieved which is comparable to single-layer coding. Our optimised two-layer coder is shown to generate as little as 1% fewer bits than a single-layer coder compared to up to 15% more bits generated by the non-optimised SNR scalable coder     

Resurgence of derived stimulus relations

Resurgence has been shown in human and nonhuman operant behavior, but not in derived relational responses. The present study examined this issue. Twenty-three undergraduates were trained to make conditional discriminations in a three-choice matching-to-sample paradigm. The training resulted in three equivalence classes, each consisting of four arbitrarily configured visual stimuli. The same 12 stimuli were then reorganized, and the conditional discrimination training was repeated such that three new classes were possible. In a subsequent test of derived relations, most subjects showed response patterns that were consistent with the altered conditional discriminations. Subjects were then exposed to conditional discrimination trials under extinction. Most subjects continued to respond consistently with the most recently reinforced conditional discrimination trials. During the next phase, subjects were exposed to symmetry and equivalence trials. Responses consistent with the most recent training produced feedback saying that the responses were incorrect, whereas other responses produced no feedback. Most subjects showed a resurgence of responding that was consistent with their earlier training. Finally, subjects were exposed to conditional discrimination trials carried out in extinction. Most subjects continued to show a resurgence of responding that was consistent with their early training.     

三维定量储层地质模型与参数动态预测方法

提出了三维定量储层地质模型及其参数动态预测方法，用该方法可预测储层开采状态，水淹区及剩余油区分布和各剩余油区的可采储量，三维定量储层地质模型的预测图件可为合理开采提供依据。     

The future of behavior therapy.

Predicts the future of behavior therapy, focusing on theoretical development, therapeutic techniques, and empirical research. The importance of cognitive and affective processes in behavior change will attract increasing attention. Already one of the most widely adopted approaches, behavior therapy will be used to treat an expanded range of psychiatric disorders and health problems. Research will focus on comparative outcome studies and provide probes for investigating the nature of specific disorders and the mechanisms of therapeutic change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An investigation into the performance and cost effectiveness of thermosyphon solar water heaters

In this paper, the TRNSYS Simulation Program is used to investigate the monthly and annual solar fraction of a Thermosyphon Solar Water Heater and to evaluate its economic viability in terms of its life cycle savings over a conventional water heating system. The results of the simulation indicate that the yearly solar contribution of the system ranges from 63% for a high hot water consumption profile to 89% for a low consumption pattern. The payback period of the system is as low as 3 years when compared to electric water heating systems. As long as the competitor is diesel oil, the payback period increases to 7–9 years, depending on the hot water consumption profile used.     

HYQ-965-Ⅲ解堵剂的研制及现场应用

针对涠洲11-4油田W11-4D-A1井返吐油基泥浆堵塞油管问题,以渗透剂、乳化剂、分散剂、互溶剂为原料,制备了HYQ-965-Ⅲ解堵剂.考察了不同配方解堵剂中原料间的配伍性和溶垢效果,研究了最佳配方:渗透剂Ⅰ20%、乳化剂Ⅰ10%、分散剂10%、互溶剂10%、海水50%.将该解堵剂在W11-4D-A1井进行应用,从现场使用情况看,HYQ-965-Ⅲ对油基泥浆、原油具有很好的分散能力,成功解除了油管堵塞,达到预期设计要求.     

An LP-based heuristic procedure for the generalized assignment problem with special ordered sets

The generalized assignment problem with special ordered sets (GAPS2), is the problem of allocating n tasks to m time-periods, where each task must be assigned to a time-period, or shared between two consecutive time-periods. For reasonably large values of m and n the NP-hard combinatorial problem GAPS2 becomes intractable for standard mathematical programming software, hence there is a need for heuristic algorithms to solve such problems. It will be shown how an LP-based heuristic developed previously for the well-established generalized assignment problem can be modified and extended to solve GAPS2. Encouraging results, in terms of speed and accuracy, in particular when compared to an existing heuristic for GAPS2, are described.