A Kirchhoff-mode method for C0 bilinear and serendipity plate elements

A new formulation for the C⁰ quadrilateral and Serendipity plate elements is presented. It is an extension of the mode-decomposition approach that has been successfully applied in evaluating the C⁰ triangular linear plate element. In contrast to the triangular element, the concept of an equivalent discrete Kirchhoff configuration is utilized. The elements are applied to several examples and the performance of these elements is shown to be quite good.     

Thermodynamic properties of regular interstitial solutions

The thermodynamics of interstitial solutions are conceptually different from the thermodynamics of substitutional solutions because the state corresponding to pure solute is experimentally inaccessible for the interstitial solution. The thermodynamic functions for the ideal and regular interstitial solutions are given and expressions for the critical point, spinodal curve, solvus, two solid-phase equilibrium, and specific heat are derived for the regular interstitial solution.     

HIFU focusing efficiency and a twin annular array source for prostate treatment

A measure of focusing efficiency is introduced for high-intensity, focused ultrasound (HIFU). The measure consists of the fraction of the total acoustic power emitted that linearly propagates through a circle located at the focus. The medium is absorption-free water, and power is computed using pressure and the normal component of velocity. 3 MHz phased-array designs involving different element layouts and curvatures are placed in square apertures of length 2.2 cm. The acoustic fields of these devices then are propagated to on-axis foci. The resulting focal efficiencies then are calculated using a two wavelength (0.1 cm) radius circle. Among these array designs, an annular array with 27 wavelength-wide rings then is extended to be the basis of a twin phased-array device for prostate hyperthermia treatment. The two annular arrays are attached to door-like hinges to allow for joint two-dimensional focusing. The focusing efficiency of this device then is compared to rectangular element-array devices with the same 5.4 by 2.2 cm source extent. With the addition of absorption and finite-amplitude distortion, the heating rate and temperature rise produced by the twin annular device in prostate tissue is considered. As a final look at the potential of annular array-based designs, three larger 2 MHz devices are briefly considered for abdominal treatment.     

Silver carboxylate nanostructure nucleation and growth on AgBr crystals

The initial stage of the reaction between sodium stearate (NaSt) and AgNO(3) produces silver stearate (AgSt) micelles, [(C(18)H(35)O(2))(x)(Na(x-y))(Ag(y))(H(2)O)(z)], and aggregations of these AgSt micelles in the form of cubic pre-AgSt crystals. When cubic grains of 50?nm AgBr are added to the NaSt dispersion prior to the AgNO(3), the reaction proceeds to form the silver stearate micelles, but not the aggregation of those micelles. Instead, the {111} silver ion planes of the cubic AgBr crystal corners provide nucleation sites for silver stearate micelle deposition and crystal growth. After nucleation, the AgSt micelles evolve into nanostructured bud-like formations via an epitaxial interface on one or several corners of each AgBr cubic crystal. Over time, additional AgSt micelle deposition enables the buds to grow longer into strand-like structures, which then connect to form the beginnings of the ultimate silver stearate crystal plates.     

U.S. coast guard research and development program for hazardous chemical discharge response

The U.S. Coast Guard's Office of Research and Development is presently conducting a program to develop equipment and methods for responding to discharges of hazardous chemicals into the waters of the United States. The program to ameliorate hazardous chemical discharges has been divided into six project areas. This paper will provide an overview of these six project areas as follows:1. Prevention and Reduction: The development of techniques to prevent or reduce the discharge of a hazardous chemical.2. Personnel Protection: The development of protective clothing, life support systems and personnel monitors for personnel responding to chemical discharges.3. Detection, Identification, and Quantification: The development of techniques to allow response personnel to detect, identify and determine the concentration of hazardous chemical discharges.4. Hazard Assessment Modeling: The development and refinement of mathematical models to predict the behavior of discharged hazardous chemicals.5. Containment, Treatment, and Recovery: The development of hardware and methods to respond to a discharge and mitigate its environmental damage.6. Disposal: The development of methods to dispose of chemicals which have been recovered.When completed, each of these project areas should provide the Coast Guard with additional capability to respond to hazardous chemical discharges.     

Multiprocessor Architecture for Rapid EEG Frequency Analysis

A multicomputer array is described that speeds up the processing of spectral representation for the EEG.     

LOCA hydroloads calculations with multidimensional nonlinear fluid-structure interaction

A methodology for realistically analyzing three-dimensional fluid-structure interaction effects and the resulting hydrodynamic loads during the subcooled portion of a hypothetical loss of coolant accident (LOCA) in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) is discussed. The methodology uses a hydrodynamic computer program, STEALTH 3D, coupled with a structural response program, WHAMSE 3D, to calculate the dynamic interaction of fluid and structure during a reactor vessel blowdown. This coupled program is user oriented and highly versatile in modeling the various components in complex reactor systems. Assessment of the methodology is provided by STEALTH/WHAMSE 3D calculations of blowdown tests in the German Battelle-Frankfurt RS-16B facility (Test DWR5) and the HDR facility (Test V31.1). The calculations are described and the results compared with experimental data. Agreement between the calculational results and experimental data is extremely good.     

A quasi-experimental validation of transactional strategies instruction with low-achieving second-grade readers.

Second-grade, low-achieving students experienced a year of either transactional strategies instruction or highly regarded, more conventional second-grade reading instruction. By the end of the academic year, there was clear evidence of greater strategy awareness and strategy use, greater acquisition of information from material read in reading group, and superior performance on standardized reading tests by the transactional strategies instruction students. This is the clearest validation to date of educator-developed transactional strategies instruction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of conventional and organic agricultural practices on the phenolic content in eggplant pulp: Plant-to-plant variation

Consumer awareness, pesticide and fertiliser contaminations, and environmental concerns have resulted in significant demand for organically grown farm products. The present study evaluates the influence that organic and conventional farming practices exert on the total phenolic content in eggplant samples from two cultivars, Blackbell (American eggplant) and Millionaire (Japanese eggplant), grown by conventional and organic farming practices with similar climatic conditions. In addition, plant-to-plant variation in phenolic content was determined from eight eggplant samples collected from different plants grown at various field positions. Samples were separately assayed for phenolic content by the two independent procedures, HPLC/LC–MS and Folin–Ciocalteu assay. The results of the HPLC analysis showed significant plant-to-plant variation (% RSD ranged from 22% to 48%) in 5-caffeoylqunic acid content (the most abundant phenolic acid) in eight eggplant samples collected from eight different plants belonging to the same cultivar and grown under similar conditions. The cv. Millionaire showed a higher total phenolic content compared to the Blackbell cultivar. We did not observe significant consistent trend in the phenolic content of eggplant samples grown with organic and conventional farming practices with both eggplant cultivars. We, however, observed a strong correlation (R² = 0.87) between total phenolic content as assayed by Folin–Ciocalteu assay and 5-caffeoylqunic acid, a major phenolic acid in eggplant extract. This study concludes that multiple repetitive analyses of plant products collected from different plants grown over various time periods (seasons) at different locations should always be carried to unambiguously prove the impact of growing conditions on phenolic content or antioxidant activity.