Model-based resource analysis and synthesis of service-oriented automotive software architectures

Software and Systems Modeling - Automotive software architectures describe distributed functionality by an interaction of software components. One drawback of today’s architectures is their...     

Use of organotin stabilizers—risk assessment analysis

Organotin compounds have long been known in the PVC industry for their excellent performance properties in almost every application. Over the past several years, a wide variety of health and environmental studies have been conducted which demonstrate the safe use of these performance chemicals as PVC heat stabilizers. This paper introduces the “risk equation” and then applies this equation to the foreseeable exposure risks involved with the use of organotin stabilizers during PVC processing. Further, migration of organotin species from PVC end-use articles is discussed with comparison to established long-term no-effect levels for these chemicals. The environmental fate of organotin compounds and their effects on some species of microorganisms is also addressed. The risk equation is used to fully evaluate all potential hazards to provide a fully informed risk assessment for the use of organotin stabilizers in PVC.     

Numerical integration in statistical decision-theoretic methods for robust design optimization

The Bayes principle from statistical decision theory provides a conceptual framework for quantifying uncertainties that arise in robust design optimization. The difficulty with exploiting this framework is computational, as it leads to objective and constraint functions that must be evaluated by numerical integration. Using a prototypical robust design optimization problem, this study explores the computational cost of multidimensional integration (computing expectation) and its interplay with optimization algorithms. It concludes that straightforward application of standard off-the-shelf optimization software to robust design is prohibitively expensive, necessitating adaptive strategies and the use of surrogates.     

A systematic approach to data processing in the analytical laboratory of a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant

This note describes the systematic approach to computer-assisted operation to be used in the analytical laboratory of the nuclear fuel reprocessing pilot plant at Karlsruhe (WAK). The computer network hardware configuration is illustrated and the software functions listed. Two advanced graphical documentation techniques facilitate and improve the system analysis and design phase of applications software.     

A review of the relationship of tin content and ligand structure on stability of rigid PVC compositions

Histrorically, the measure of thermal performance on given PVC compositions has been approximated by the metal content of the chosen heat stabilizer. However, advances in tin and ligand chemistry necessitate the evaluation of thermal stabilizers on criteria other than metal content. Many factors including the nature of the metallic species and relative activity of the organic ligands must be considered. A discussion will be given on the facets of heat stabilizer compositions and their effects upon PVC formulations and processing. Performance criteria for organotin stabilizers. The take-home point will be that tin content alone, in most formulations, is not the most important determinant in PVC heat stabilizer effectiveness.     

Protein Spin Labeling with a Photocaged Nitroxide Using Diels–Alder Chemistry

EPR spectroscopy of diamagnetic bio-macromolecules is based on site-directed spin labeling (SDSL). Herein, a novel labeling strategy for proteins is presented. A nitroxide-based spin label has been developed and synthesized that can be ligated to proteins by an inverse-electron-demand Diels–Alder (DA_inv) cycloaddition to genetically encoded noncanonical amino acids. The nitroxide moiety is shielded by a photoremovable protecting group with an attached tetra(ethylene glycol) unit to achieve water solubility. SDSL is demonstrated on two model proteins with the photoactivatable nitroxide for DA_inv reaction (PaNDA) label. The strategy features high reaction rates, combined with high selectivity, and the possibility to deprotect the nitroxide in Escherichia coli lysate.