The Integrated Power Switch

Utilizing a signal from transistor transistor logic (TTL) circuits, the integrated power switch (IPS) can control 40 kW. Protection against overload conditions enables the use of transistors which have ideal switching characteristics. Each half-section of the IPS is electrically isolated from the signal input using optical couplers. Discrete component assemblies, printed-circuit boards, thick-film or medium-scale integrated substrates each have been utilized. The forced-air-cooled heat sink was designed for maximum cooling. Two types of IPS's were initially constructed: 500 V/60 A, and 100 V/200 A, with additional availability of 500 V/100 A devices in small quantity. Its capability to work from continuous operation to 10 kHz makes the IPS universally applicable to most power-conversion applications with-in its current and voltage limitation.     

Platelet and neutrophil distributions in pump oxygenator circuits. III. Influence of nitric oxide gas infusion

The authors used quantitative gamma scintigraphy to evaluate the influence of nitric oxide gas on platelet and neutrophil deposition in Cobe Duo microporous oxygenators during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The effects of nitric oxide gas on circulating platelet and neutrophil counts and platelet function also were assessed. Animals were prepared by standard methods. Cells were harvested, labeled (111 In platelet and 99mTc neutrophil), infused, and recirculated. Nitric oxide gas, a guanylate cyclase pathway promoter, was infused int he Duo gas port at 500 ppm (t = 0-60 min), increased to 1,000 (t = 60-80 min), and stopped (final, 10 min). Images were taken at 10-15 min intervals during CPB. Standard isotope image corrections were made. No differences between nitric oxide gas and control experiments were observed for flow, pressure, hematocrit, or replacement volume. Nitric oxide gas infusion significantly (p < 0.05) reduced both platelet adherence to the oxygenator and in vitro platelet aggregation. Neutrophil adhesion tended to be lower, and circulating platelet and neutrophil counts tended to be higher with nitric oxide gas infusion. Results of in vitro aggregometry studies using rabbit platelets indicate that the class V phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast can strongly enhance the inhibitory effects of nitric oxide. The authors conclude nitric oxide gas is a promising platelet sparing agent in the setting of CPB.     

Boundary Objects and Prototypes at the Interfaces of Engineering Design

The primary hypothesis of this paper is thatinternal and external changes in design andmanufacturing organizations affect theviability of boundary objects (representations,drawings, models – virtual and physical) andrequire changes in the underlying distributedcognitive models. Internal and external factorsinclude new advances in technologies, insightsinto organizational processes, organizationalrestructuring and change of market focus. Ifthe above hypothesis is true, then there areconsequences for the methodologies of designingcomputational support systems for co-operativeengineering work. We provide evidence bydescribing three empirical studies ofengineering design we have performed in largeorganizations. We investigate how changingtechnologies disrupt the common grounds amonginterfaces and how this opens debate onthe role of boundary objects, especially in theproduct visualization and analysis arena. Wethen argue that changes in market forces andother factors leading to changes inorganizational structures often lead to erosionof common understanding of representations andprototypes, above all at the interfaces. Weconclude by making the case that everystructural and information flow change inengineering organizations is accompanied by thepotential deterioration of the common ground.This requires the synthesis of new commongrounds to accommodate the needs of newinterfaces.     

Using hindsight in medical decision making

As the clinical picture of a patient evolves over time, more information becomes available. Certain procedure require time to perform, causing delay between the time when the tests are ordered and when the results are available. Furthermore, as the patient's condition changes over time, serial measurements can be made. The availability of more data allows a more accurate assessment of the patient. Uncertainties, guesses or errors that were made early in the clinical course of patient care can also be identified and resolved when more information is available. Reasoning with a stream of data that changes over time presents a challenge to the designers of expert systems. The use of hindsight in expert system requires that appropriate attention be paid to the temporal relations of the data and that care is exercised in revising decision. I present a data-dependency system, the Temporal Control Structure (TCS), designed to support reasoning with data changing over time and show how it can be used to implement reasoning by hindsight.     

Blood-alcohol level feedback: A failure to deter impaired driving.

In an attempt to decrease the incidence of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), some alcohol-serving establishments have installed blood-alcohol level (BAL) feedback devices. These devices are meant to increase awareness of intoxication and result in the avoidance of DUI. However, studies in the US, Canada, and New Zealand (e.g., J. F. Oates, 1976; J. Calvert-Boyanowsky and E. O. Boyanowsky, 1980; P. M. Hurst and P. G. Wright, 1981) indicate that BAL feedback does not deter intoxicated individuals from DUI. Moreover, there is some evidence that it may increase alcohol consumption. The education of alcohol servers about effective techniques they can use to prevent DUI is suggested as a more effective means of preventing DUI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The misdiagnosis of holiday and winter complaints: An unconscious shift in criteria?

Discusses the widespread belief among the public and among mental health professionals regarding the phenomenon of winter or holiday depression. Data from the literature are presented to show that statistical trends supportive of such a phenomenon, such as increases in suicide rates, psychiatric hospitalizations, or psychiatric emergency room visits, do not in fact exist. It is argued that the persistence of this belief among professionals may cause an unconscious shift in criteria when diagnosing complaints presented during this period, which may cause the overdiagnosis of winter or holiday complaints as depression, the tendency to dismiss such complaints lightly, and the failure to treat genuine depression. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Die Bodenkörper des Systems Chrom(III)-Arsenat

Zusammenfassung Chrom(III)-orthoarsenat besitzt als Fixierungs-form des mykozid und insektizid wirksamen Arsenats im Holzschutz eine gro?e Bedeutung. Es werden die Darstellung, Entstehungsbedingungen, Zusammensetzung und L?slichkeitseigenschaften eines grauvioletten und des grünen Chrom(III)-orthoarsenats beschrieben und Angaben über das Verhalten des grünen Chromarsenats gegenüber terti?rem und sekund?rem Natriumarsenat sowie Arsens?ure gemacht. Vortrag, gehalten auf der 4. Holzschutztagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Holzforschung am 5. Juni 1954 in Berlin.     

Analysis of HBM ESD testers and specifications using a fourth-order lumped element model

This paper presents the general and analytical solution of a fourth-order lumped element model (LEM) to describe human body model (HBM) electrostatic discharge (ESD) testers including the main tester parasitic elements. The analytical fitting to the LEM of experimentally obtained HBM pulse data is a new scientifically justified tool to determine HBM tester parasitic elements. The impact of the test board capacitance on HBM testing is demonstrated and explained. Furthermore, the MIL 883C/3015.7¹ and EOS/ESD S5.1-1991² Standards on HBM testers are evaluated upon their selectivity to the test board capacitance. Finally, recommendations to improve HBM tester specifications regarding their selectivity to the parasitic test board capacitance are formulated     

SPRAWL IN THE 1990S Measurement, Distribution, and Trends

Although sprawl is a growing national debate, there have been few efforts to measure or monitor changes in degree of sprawl over time. By using a methodology that employs census data, this sprawl index allows computation of levels of sprawl and examination of temporal and geographic changes. The results show that sprawl has increased over the past decade in many metropolitan areas. There are important geographic variations in sprawl, implying that it is neither inevitable nor universal.