Interobl: An interactive software tool for displaying and scaling oblique ionograms

By analyzing an oblique ionogram several characteristics, such as LOF, MOF, FMUF, FHLOF, FLLOF, and 2FMOF, can be found. These characteristics are important both for ionospheric studies and for terrestrial communication purposes, as they give information about the sky wave communication conditions in the High Frequency (HF) radio spectrum.A RCS-5B sweeping HF receiver for oblique sounding was installed at Chania (Crete, Greece, 35.7°N, 24.0°E) in April 2005 to perform a radio link with Inskip (UK, 53.5°N, 2.5°W). The receiver, able to record the sounding only as a binary file, was not equipped with a tool to display and scale the recorded trace. This work describes software that is able to do this, consequently increasing the speed of the scaling phase performed by the operator. The usefulness of this software for validating FMUF prediction models is also shown.     

Interval based MINLP superstructure synthesis of mass exchange networks

A new simultaneous synthesis approach for mass exchange networks (MENs) is presented. The technique is adapted from the interval based mixed integer non-linear program (MINLP) superstructure (IBMS) synthesis of heat exchanger networks (HENs). The superstructure interval boundary compositions are defined by the supply and target compositions of either the rich or lean set of streams. Each rich and lean stream in the superstructure has the potential of exchanging mass with streams of opposite kind in each interval based on mass transfer feasibility. The model harnesses the strengths of the stagewise superstructure and the pinch technology methods for mass exchange network synthesis (MENS). The IBMS approach simultaneously trades-off the capital and operating costs for MENs. The superstructure composition interval defining approach introduced in this paper enforces the mixing of split streams at equal compositions, hence there is no need to include mixing equations in the model. Fixing the interval boundaries helps to eliminate the complexities involved in initialisations, thus the region of search for the optimum solution is reduced. The IBMS model is applied to MENS problems involving continuous contact and staged columns. It is also extended to problems involving multiple mass separating agents (MSAs) and regeneration. The results obtained compare well with those in the literature.     

Metathesis as a versatile tool in oleochemistry

Olefin metathesis, awarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2005 for Chauvin, Grubbs and Schrock, has emerged as a powerful tool for organic as well as polymer chemistry. In oleochemistry, this reaction is well known and has been applied for many decades. Examples include the functionalization of the double bonds of different oleochemicals or the (direct) polymerization of plant oils via metathesis. More recent developments, particularly the development of better and more robust catalysts, allow for highly efficient cross‐metathesis reactions opening new possibilities for the direct introduction of chemical functionalities. Within this contribution, the development of metathesis in oleochemistry will be discussed, covering self‐metathesis as well as more recent developments in the field of cross‐metathesis that lead to desired platform chemicals.     

针对医疗设备的精确电池备份

本文通过测试测量方案介绍了如何进行医疗设备的精确电池备份。     

A distributed adverse drug reaction detection system using intelligent agents with a fuzzy recognition‐primed decision model

Discovering unknown adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in postmarketing surveillance as early as possible is highly desirable. Nevertheless, current postmarketing surveillance methods largely rely on spontaneous reports that suffer from serious underreporting, latency, and inconsistent reporting. Thus these methods are not ideal for rapidly identifying rare ADRs. The multiagent systems paradigm is an emerging and effective approach to tackling distributed problems, especially when data sources and knowledge are geographically located in different places and coordination and collaboration are necessary for decision making. In this article, we propose an active, multiagent framework for early detection of ADRs by utilizing electronic patient data distributed across many different sources and locations. In this framework, intelligent agents assist a team of experts based on the well‐known human decision‐making model called Recognition‐Primed Decision (RPD). We generalize the RPD model to a fuzzy RPD model and utilize fuzzy logic technology to not only represent, interpret, and compute imprecise and subjective cues that are commonly encountered in the ADR problem but also to retrieve prior experiences by evaluating the extent of matching between the current situation and a past experience. We describe our preliminary multiagent system design and illustrate its potential benefits for assisting expert teams in early detection of previously unknown ADRs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 22: 827–845, 2007.     

Neurophysiological Model of the Normal and Abnormal Human Pupil

A model of the pathways controlling the size of the human pupil is presented. Computer simulation of this model demonstrates the role played by each of the elements in the pupil pathways. Simulations of the effects of drugs and a few common abnormalities in the system also help to illustrate the workings of the internal processes. Computer models of this type can be used as teaching aids or as tools for testing of hypotheses regarding the system.     

Nitric oxide reduction at noble metal electrodes: a voltammetric study in acid solution

Features of the electrochemical reduction of nitric oxide on platinum, palladium, rhodium and ruthenium in aqueous perchloric acid solutions (0.33–1.0 M) are compared. The results from voltammetric studies (ie linear potential sweep and rotating disc electrode) using the bulk metal electrodes are described and compared with residual current voltage plots in acid electrolyte alone. In general, three nitric oxide reduction peaks are observed on the metals. The most anodic peak, at ca E = 0.15 V vs sce is attributed to the one-electron reduction of nitric oxide to an adsorbed NOH intermediate on a bare metal surface (ie one free of oxides or adsorbed hydrogen). The other two peaks occur in potential regions where adsorbed hydrogen is present on the metal surface (ca E = 0.0 and −0.20 V, respectively). The co-adsorbed hydrogen complicates the analysis and precludes an unambiguous interpretation of these two peaks. However, they apparently reflect nitric oxide reduction to nitrogen, hydroxylamine and/or ammonia. In a cathodic scan on the rhodium electrode, a current plateau is seen instead of the first (most anodic) peak, a probable consequence of oxide film formation with subsequent chemical complications. On the ruthenium electrode the first two (most anodic) peaks are not observed probably due to a relatively stable oxide layer. Reaction selectivities at metal black gas diffusion cathodes operating in an electrogenerative (ie galvanic) mode with perchloric acid electrolyte are compared with the voltammetric results at the corresponding bulk electrodes. Dinitrogen formation is observed on the platinum and rhodium black electrodes as suggested from voltammetric results. A series-parallel reaction sequence is proposed to explain the results. Limitations of using simple voltammetric techniques for predicting behavior of large scale preparative electrochemical reactors are discussed.