Synchronous thermal wave IR video imaging for nondestructive evaluation

We describe a system for real-time processing of infrared video images in synchronism with the time-dependence of the target object's temperature. The system can either be used either with periodic or pulsed heating of the target. With periodic heating, the system operates as if it were a collection of lock-in amplifiers, one for each of the quarter of the million pixels of the image. With pulsed heating, it operates as if it consisted of a similar number of box-car averagers. In both cases, the signal-to-noise ratio and temperature sensitivity of the infrared camera are improved. The technique lends itself to a wide spectrum of NDE applications.     

Yield response of wetland rice to band placement of urea solution in various soils in the tropics

Alternative N-fertilizer management practices are needed to increase productivity and the N-use efficiency of flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.). Seven field experiments were conducted at various sites in Bangladesh and Indonesia to evaluate the effect of time and method of fertilizer-N application on grain yield in transplanted rice. Conventional fertilizer application was compared with band placement of liquid urea using a mechanical push-type injector and point placement of urea supergranules. With band placement, grain yields were up to 38 and 55% higher than with researchers' and farmers' practices, respectively, and similar to those with point placement of urea supergranules.     

Re-examination of a proposed model for nonisothermal crystallization kinetics

This communication is a theoretical re-examination of the model proposed by Choe and Lee for the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of semicrystalline polymers.     

Oestradiol-17 beta modulates PAF-evoked phospholipase D activity but not inositide-lipid hydrolysis in human endometrial cell line, HEC-1B

The skeleton of a middle-aged adult male, found in the Late Epigravettian necropolis of Arene Candide cave (Italy) and dated to the XII millennium B.C., exhibits abnormal changes, including bowing deformities, stunted growth, enthesopathies, and increased bone density. The pattern of the observed changes is less consistent with diagnoses of metaphyseal chondrodysplasias, hypophosphatasia, dietary rickets, or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) than with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, which is the most likely etiological factor. This diagnosis may explain other abnormalities (exceptional elongation of the skull and bilateral absence of the lesser trochanter) displayed by other individuals from the same site.     

Differential effects of Ca2+ channel blockers on Ca2+ transients and cell cycle progression in vascular smooth muscle cells

The predominant angiotensin II receptor expressed in the human myometrium is the angiotensin AT2 receptor. This preparation was used for a structure-activity relationship study on angiotensin II analogues modified in positions 1 and 8. The angiotensin AT2 receptor present on human myometrium membranes displayed a high affinity (pKd = 9.18) and was relatively abundant (53-253 fmol/mg of protein). The pharmacological profile was typical of an angiotensin AT2 receptor with the following order of affinities: (angiotensin III > or = angiotensin II > angiotensin I > PD123319 > angiotensin-(1-7) > angiotensin-(1-6) approximately angiotensin IV > Losartan). Modifications of the N-terminal side chain and of the primary amine of angiotensin II were evaluated. Neutralisation of the methylcarboxylate (Asp) to a methylcarboxamide (Asn) or to a hydroxymethyl (Ser) or substitution for a methylsulfonate group (cysteic acid) improved the affinity. Extension from methylcarboxylate (Asp) to ethylcarboxylate (Glu) did not affect the affinity. Introduction of larger side chains such as the bulky p-benzoylphenylalanine (p-Bpa) or the positively charged Lys did not substantially affect the affinity. Complete removal of the side chain (angiotensin III), however, resulted in a significant affinity increase. Removal or acetylation of the primary amine of angiotensin II did not noticeably influence the affinity. Progressive alkylation of the primary amine significantly increased the affinity, betain structures being the most potent. It appears that quite important differences exist between the angiotensin AT1 and AT2 receptors concerning their pharmacological profile towards analogues of angiotensin II modified in position 1. On position 8 of angiotensin II, a structure-activity relationship on the angiotensin AT2 receptor was quite similar to that observed with angiotensin AT1 receptor. Bulky, hydrophobic aromatic residues displayed affinities similar to or even better than [Sarcosine1]angiotensin II. Aliphatic residues, especially those of reduced size, caused a significant decrease in affinity especially [Sarcosine1, Gly8]angiotensin II who showed a 30-fold decrease. Introduction of a positive charge (Lys) at position 8 reduced the affinity even further. Stereoisomers in position 8 (L-->D configuration) also induced lower affinities. The angiotensin AT2 receptor display a structure-activity relationship similar to that observed on the AT1 receptor for the C-terminal position of the peptide hormone. Position 1 structure-activity relationships are however fundamentally different between the angiotensin AT1 and AT2 receptor.     

Why do infants make A not B errors in a search task, yet show memory for the location of hidden objects in a nonsearch task?

In 4 experiments, infants aged 8 to 12 months were tested on A not B search tasks, and nonsearch A not B tasks following the violation-of-expectation paradigm. A 1-location task and 2 control tasks were also conducted. In the nonsearch tasks, a toy was hidden in A, moved to B, and retrieved after a delay from either A (impossible) or B (possible). Results showed significantly longer looking times at impossible events, indicating some memory for where the object was hidden and an expectation of where it should be found. This effect occurred at delays at which infants made the A not B error when searching, and at a longer delay of 15 s. The results showed clearly that infants have some memory for the object's location, even at delays at which they search at the incorrect location. Discussion centers on how these results are accounted for within explanations of the A not B error. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sensitivity analysis of machine interference in manufacturing systems

A class of manufacturing systems is presented in which the machine interference problem plays an important role in production. We consider a single server (robot) in addition to two types of random machine stoppages with priorities. A detailed analysis has been focused on two measures: robot utilization and machine efficiency. It has been shown that one has to make a compromise between the above two sensitive measures. We have further computed the optimum number of machines that can be served by a robot. A novel optimization technique is used to fulfill this requirement. The simulation results reveal that the number of machines as well as the service rate can be utilized as decision variables in the problem at hand.     

Memory allocation costs in large C and C++ programs

Dynamic storage allocation is an important part of a large class of computer programs written in C and C + +. High-performance algorithms for dynamic storage allocation have been, and will continue to be, of considerable interest. This paper presents detailed measurements of the cost of dynamic storage allocation in 11 diverse C and C + + programs using five very different dynamic storage allocation implementations, including a conservative garbage collection algorithm. Four of the allocator implementations measured are publicly available on the Internet. A number of the programs used in these measurements are also available on the Internet to facilitate further research in dynamic storage allocation. Finally, the data presented in this paper is an abbreviated version of more extensive statistics that are also publicly available on the Internet.