Inspection of commercial optical devices for data storage using a three Gaussian beam microscope interferometer

Recently, an interferometric profilometer based on the heterodyning of three Gaussian beams has been reported. This microscope interferometer, called a three Gaussian beam interferometer, has been used to profile high quality optical surfaces that exhibit constant reflectivity with high vertical resolution and lateral resolution near lambda. We report the use of this interferometer to measure the profiles of two commercially available optical surfaces for data storage, namely, the compact disk (CD-R) and the digital versatile disk (DVD-R). We include experimental results from a one-dimensional radial scan of these devices without data marks. The measurements are taken by placing the devices with the polycarbonate surface facing the probe beam of the interferometer. This microscope interferometer is unique when compared with other optical measuring instruments because it uses narrowband detection, filters out undesirable noisy signals, and because the amplitude of the output voltage signal is basically proportional to the local vertical height of the surface under test, thus detecting with high sensitivity. We show that the resulting profiles, measured with this interferometer across the polycarbonate layer, provide valuable information about the track profiles, making this interferometer a suitable tool for quality control of surface storage devices.     

Assessing data cybersecurity using ISO/IEC 25012

Software Quality Journal - Data is of ever-growing importance and is widely considered to be a company’s most valuable asset. Since data is becoming the main driver of business value, data...     

EANN 2014: a fuzzy logic system trained by conjugate gradient methods for fault classification in a switch machine

This paper discusses and analyzes the performance of a technique for classifying possible faults (lack of lubrication, lack of adjustment and malfunction of a component) that can occur in an electromechanical switch machine, which is an equipment used for handling railroad switches. This technique makes use of a type-1 and singleton fuzzy logic system trained through the conjugate gradient method (i.e., second-order information is now considered). Combinations of feature extraction techniques based on higher-order information, feature selection technique based on Fisher’s discriminant ratio and three classifiers (Bayes based, multilayer perceptron neural network and type-1 and singleton fuzzy logic system) show the effectiveness of the discussed technique when a data set provided by a company of the Brazilian railway sector, which addresses the possible faults in a switch machine, is considered. Additionally, the reported results show that the type-1 and singleton fuzzy logic system trained by the conjugated gradient method can offer higher convergence rate and performance for a limited number of epochs than that one trained by the steepest descent method. Finally, but not the least, based upon the attained results, the proposed technique enables the railway company to adopt solutions to achieve operational excellence.     

A practical parametrical characterization of the Fenton and the photo‐Fenton sulfamethazine treatment using semi‐empirical modeling

BACKGROUND: Sulfamethazine (SMT) has received little attention in the water treatment literature. Yet, SMT is among the non‐biodegradable substances increasingly found in aqueous media and affecting both public health and wastewater treatments. For a long time, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) were studied via pure empirical modeling, although the surface response models resulting from lumped information (TOC, COD, etc.) present limitations regarding extrapolation and optimization. Conversely, detailed first‐principles modeling may not be affordable due to the computational burden and the chemical analysis needs. Thus, a balanced approach may be practical in many cases. RESULTS: Experiments on SMT solutions (500 mL, 50 mg L^?1) were performed under conditions set by an experimental design. A set of replicated degradation time‐profiles (TOC and SMT concentrations) was obtained and a semi‐empirical kinetic model was fitted to these data to determine maximum conversion and kinetic rate. CONCLUSIONS: SMT can be completely degraded from water via photo‐Fenton treatment. Conditions for this treatment were investigated and its outcomes were systematically characterized by a simple kinetic model and two lumped parameters, conversion and kinetic rate. Both, the model and the corresponding parametrical characterization are introduced as a means to discriminate the most efficient treatment conditions in a practical and efficient way. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mineralogical Evolution of Kaolin‐Based Drinking Water Treatment Waste for Use as Pozzolanic Material. The Effect of Activation Temperature

This study reports on exhaustive scientific research into the influence of the activation temperature of inert waste from drinking water treatment plants for use as supplementary cementing material in cements. The effect of activation temperature on the mineralogy of the reactive products resulting from pozzolanic activity and on the evolution of the hydrated phases formed during the pozzolanic reaction at 28 d of curing was analyzed with the assistance of different instrumental techniques such as X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that all the activated products (based on metakaolinite) presented high pozzolanic activity at all ages of the reaction (up to 90 d), although 600°C at 2 h are the recommended ideal activation conditions from an energetic and economic viewpoint. The activation temperature (600°C–900°C for 2 h of retention) plays an important role in the reaction kinetics in activated drinking water waste/Ca(OH)₂ systems. The hydrated phases identified under these activation conditions were very similar, but with important differences in the crystalline aluminates phases content. Thus, the formation of stratlingite (C₂ASH₈) is favored at low temperatures (<800°C); whereas at higher temperatures (at 900°C), tetra calcium aluminate hydrate (C₄AH₁₃) appears as the only crystalline phase. Finally, this type of treatment of drinking water waste (based on kaolinite) is ideal to obtain future pozzolans based on recycled metakaoline, a product that is currently listed in international standards for the manufacture of commercial cements.     

Patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary artery endarteritis]

The authors present losartan, an angiotensin II receptor inhibitor with respect to its clinical interest and its practical and economical aspects.     

Characterization and Treatments of Oil Palm Frond Fibers and Its Suitability for Technical Applications

The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of oil palm frond fibers (OPFf) for technical applications such as composite reinforcement. For this purpose, fibers obtained from frond wastes were subjected to various chemical treatments with NaOH and chemically and morphologically characterized. Afterward, composites of poly-lactic acid matrix and nonwoven matts made with the treated and the untreated OPFf were prepared and the mechanical properties tested. It was found that the alkaline treatment was effective for increasing the wettability of the fibers leading to composites with a good-balanced between lightness and toughness for potential applications in packaging or automotive industries.     

Evaluation of the Adenocarcinoma-Associated Gene AGR2 and the Intestinal Stem Cell Marker LGR5 as Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer

We aim to estimate the diagnostic performances of anterior gradient homolog-2 (AGR2) and Leucine-rich repeat-containing-G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) in peripheral blood (PB) as mRNA biomarkers in colorectal cancer (CRC) and to explore their prognostic significance. Real-time PCR was used to analyze AGR2 and LGR5 in 54 stages I-IV CRC patients and 19 controls. Both mRNAs were significantly increased in PB from CRC patients compared to controls. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves were 0.722 (p = 0.006), 0.376 (p = 0.123) and 0.767 (p = 0.001) for AGR2, LGR5 and combined AGR2/LGR5, respectively. The AGR2/LGR5 assay resulted in 67.4% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity. AGR2 correlated with pT3-pT4 and high-grade tumors. LGR5 correlated with metastasis, R2 resections and high-grade. The progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with high AGR2 was reduced (p = 0.037; HR, 2.32), also in the stage I-III subgroup (p = 0.046). LGR5 indicated a poor prognosis regarding both PFS (p = 0.007; HR, 1.013) and overall survival (p = 0.045; HR, 1.01). High AGR2/LGR5 was associated with poor PFS (p = 0.014; HR, 2.8) by multivariate analysis. Our findings indicate that the assessment of AGR2 and LGR5 in PB might reflect the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and stem cell like CTC in CRC. Increased AGR2 and LGR5 are associated with poor outcomes.