Interactive Workspaces

We are rapidly entering a world in which people equip themselves with a small constellation of mobile devices and pass through environments rich in embedded technology. However, we are still a long way from harnessing the power of this technology in a way that seamlessly and invisibly assists users in their day-to-day activities. Bringing pervasive computing to maturity requires innovations in systems integration and human-computer interaction (HCI). To investigate these challenges, Stanford University's Interactive Workspaces project (http://iwork.stanford.edu/) is exploring team-based collaboration in technology-augmented environments. These workspaces are designed to allow groups of five to ten people to work together using computing and interaction devices on many scales.     

EDEN: An Intelligent Software Environment for Diagnosis of Discrete-Event Systems

A software environment, called EDEN, that prototypes a recent approach to model-based diagnosis of discrete-event systems, is presented. The environment integrates a specification language, called SMILE, a model base, and a diagnostic engine. SMILE enables the user to create libraries of models and systems, which are permanently stored in the model base, wherein both final and intermediate results of the diagnostic sessions are hosted as well. Given the observation of a physical system gathered during its reaction to an external event, the diagnostic engine performs the a posteriori reconstruction of all the possible evolutions of the system over time and, then, draws candidate diagnoses out of them. The diagnostic method is described using a simplified example within the domain of power transmission networks. Strong points of the method include compositional modeling, support for model update, ability to focus on any sub-system, amenability to parallel execution, management of multiple faults, and broad notions of system and observation.     

A Probabilistic Approach to Concurrent Mapping and Localization for Mobile Robots

This paper addresses the problem of building large-scale geometric maps of indoor environments with mobile robots. It poses the map building problem as a constrained, probabilistic maximum-likelihood estimation problem. It then devises a practical algorithm for generating the most likely map from data, along with the most likely path taken by the robot. Experimental results in cyclic environments of size up to 80 by 25 meter illustrate the appropriateness of the approach.     

Josef Bro?ek: Friendship and History.

Presents reflections on the life and achievements of Josef Maria Bro?ek. The author notes that, in his way, Bro?ek turned psychology historiography into an international domain involving, in this construction, researchers from countries not only of Anglo Saxon languages but also those of Slavic and Latin languages, including Brazil. Quoting from Braque, he affirmed that "knowledge of the past enables the revelation of the present." However, he believed that "reality is not revealed if it is not sparkled by a poetic beam." The poetry of life illuminated Bro?ek and his actions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Robert A. Harper (1915-2004).

Presents the obituary for Robert A. Harper (1915-2004). Dr. Harper is noted for his contributions to the field of psychotherapy, particularly to the areas of marriage, family, and sex therapy. In addition, his expertise, good nature, and no-nonsense style made him a popular figure amongst his peers, who elected him to leadership positions in numerous professional organizations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

马上就用Linux

SP2似乎阻挡住了许多软件，这让人简直要怀疑发行它的意图。     

Magnetic flux array for spontaneous magnetic reconnection experiments

Experimental investigation of reconnection in magnetized plasmas relies on accurate characterization of the evolving magnetic fields. In experimental configurations where the plasma dynamics are reproducible, magnetic data can be collected in multiple discharges and combined to provide spatially resolved profiles of the plasma dynamics. However, in experiments on spontaneous magnetic reconnection recently undertaken at the Versatile Toroidal Facility at MIT, the reconnection process is not reproducible and all information on the plasma must be collected in a single discharge. This paper describes a newly developed magnetic flux array which directly measures the toroidal component of the magnetic vector potential, A(phi). From the measured A(phi), the magnetic field geometry, current density, and reconnection rate are readily obtained, facilitating studies of the three-dimensional dynamics of spontaneous magnetic reconnection. The novel design of the probe array allows for accurate characterization of profiles of A(phi) at multiple toroidal angles using a relatively small number of signal channels and with minimal disturbance of the plasma.     

Mass spectrometry for detection of 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE) adducts with peptides and proteins

Despite the great technical advancement of mass spectrometry, this technique has contributed in a limited way to the discovery and quantitation of specific/precocious markers linked to free radical-mediated diseases. Unsaturated aldehydes generated by free radical-induced lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and in particular 4-hydroxy-trans-2 nonenal (HNE), are involved in the onset and progression of many pathologies such as cardiovascular (atherosclerosis, long-term complications of diabetes) and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral ischemia). Most of the biological effects of HNE are attributed to the capacity of HNE to react with the nucleophilic sites of proteins and peptides (other than nucleic acids), to form covalently modified biomolecules that can disrupt important cellular functions and induce mutations. By considering the emerging role of HNE in several human diseases, an unequivocal analytical approach as mass spectrometry to detect/elucidate the structure of protein-HNE adducts in biological matrices is strictly needed not only to understand the reaction mechanism of HNE, but also to gain a deeper insight into the pathological role of HNE. This with the aim to provide intermediate diagnostic biomarkers for human diseases. This review sheds focus on the "state-of-the-art" of mass spectrometric applications in the field of HNE-protein adducts characterization, starting from the fundamental early studies and discussing the different MS-based approaches that can provide detailed information on the mechanistic aspects of HNE-protein interaction. In the last decade, the increases in the accessible mass ranges of modern instruments and advances in ionization methods have made possible a fundamental improvement in the analysis of protein-HNE adducts by mass spectrometry, and in particular by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry. The recent developments and uses of combined analytical approaches to detect and characterize the type/site of interaction have been highlighted, and several other aspects, including sample preparation methodologies, structure elucidation, and data analysis have also been considered.     

Structural interaction of natural and synthetic inhibitors with the venom metalloproteinase, atrolysin C (form d)

The structure of the metalloproteinase and hemorrhagic toxin atrolysin C form d (EC 3.4.24.42), from the venom of the western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox, has been determined to atomic resolution by x-ray crystallographic methods. This study illuminates the nature of inhibitor binding with natural (< Glu-Asn-Trp, where < Glu is pyroglutamic acid) and synthetic (SCH 47890) ligands. The primary specificity pocket is exceptionally deep; the nature of inhibitor and productive substrate binding is discussed. Insights gained from the study of these complexes facilitate the design of potential drugs to treat diseases where matrix metalloproteinases have been implicated, e.g., arthritis and tumor metastasis.     

Thermodynamic evaluation of new absorbent mixtures of lithium bromide and organic salts for absorption refrigeration machines

Mixtures of lithium bromide and organic salts of sodium and potassium (formate, acetate and lactate) have been evaluated as alternative absorbents for absorption refrigeration machines. The main objective is to overpass the limitations of lithium bromide and improve the characteristics and the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle. In order to select the mixture that presents better properties for its employment in absorption refrigeration cycles, a thermodynamic analysis have been done. Density, viscosity, enthalpies of dilution, solubility and vapour pressure data of the proposed mixtures have been measured. A simulation program has been developed to evaluate temperatures, heats exchanged in the different sections and the efficiency of the cycle.