Solving multiple objective quasi-convex goal programming problems by linear programming

This study presents a novel means of resolving multiple objective goal programming (GP) problems with quasi-convex linear penalty functions. The proposed method initially expresses a quasi-convex function by the maximum operator of two convex functions, then solves it via a linear programming technique. The proposed method does not contain any zero–one variables; nor does it require dividing the multi-objective quasi-convex GP problem into large sub-problems as in conventional methods. Some illustrative examples are provided.     

Prophylactic efficacy of tilmicosin for bovine respiratory tract disease

The prophylactic administration of injectable tilmicosin for pneumonia in weaned beef calves was investigated in 1,806 animals. Comparisons were made among calves receiving an "on-arrival" injection of tilmicosin, calves receiving a single injection of long-acting oxytetracycline, and calves receiving no prophylaxis. Morbidity and mortality attributable to pneumonia, morbidity and mortality attributable to all causes, and case fatality were significantly lower in the group of calves that received tilmicosin, compared with calves that received long-acting oxytetracycline and calves that received no prophylactic antibiotic. Mean time to initial pneumonia treatment was significantly extended in calves that received prophylaxis, compared with those that received no antibiotic on arrival at the feedlot. Calves that received tilmicosin gained significantly more weight than calves that received oxytetracycline. Calves that were not treated for pneumonia during the trial period gained significantly more weight than did those calves that were treated for pneumonia regardless of experimental group. The majority of mortalities were attributable to fibrinous pneumonia (31/34). Important bacterial isolates (Pasteurella spp, Haemophilus somnus, Actinomyces pyogenes) obtained at necropsy did not have resistance to tilmicosin in association with administration of tilmicosin as prophylaxis for pneumonia. However, bacterial resistance to trimethoprim/sulfonamide and to oxytetracycline were commonly found in these postmortem isolates.     

Deuterium trapping by irradiation damage in tungsten induced by different displacement processes

The deuterium trapping behaviors in tungsten damaged by light ions with lower energy (10 keV C⁺ and 3 keV He⁺) or a heavy ion with higher energy (2.8 MeV Fe²⁺) were compared by means of TDS to understand the effects of cascade collisions on deuterium retention in tungsten. By light ion irradiation, most of deuterium was trapped by vacancies, whose retention was almost saturated at the damage level of 0.2 dpa. For the heavy ion irradiation, the deuterium trapping by voids was found, indicating that cascade collisions by the heavy ion irradiation would create the voids in tungsten. Most of deuterium trapped by the voids was desorbed in higher temperature region compared to that trapped by vacancies. It was also found that deuterium could accumulate in the voids, resulting in the formation of blisters in tungsten.     

Quantifying motion in video recordings of neonatal seizures by robust motion trackers based on block motion models

This paper introduces a methodology for the development of robust motion trackers for video based on block motion models. According to this methodology, the motion of a site between two successive frames is estimated by minimizing an error function defined in terms of the intensities at these frames. The proposed methodology is used to develop robust motion trackers that rely on fractional block motion models. The motion trackers developed in this paper are utilized to extract motor activity signals from video recordings of neonatal seizures. The experimental results reveal that the proposed motion trackers are more accurate and reliable than existing motion tracking methods relying on pure translation and affine block motion models.     

GAS-HYDRATE SYSTEMS AND GAS VOLUMETRIC ASSESSMENT IN THE LOWER FANGLIAO BASIN,TAIWAN ACCRETIONARY WEDGE

The accretionary wedge in the incipient arc-continent collisional zone offshore southwestern Taiwan is rich in gas hydrates as inferred from reflection seismic data and the geochemical analyses of shallow sediments. In this study, 2D and 3D seismic data were used to investigate the role of structural factors including mud diapirism on the formation of gas hydrates and associated free gas in the Quaternary Lower Fangliao Basin, a semi-enclosed slope basin situated on the upper accretionary wedge. Albeit limited drilling information on lithostratigraphy and petroleum potential in the area together with seismic reflection data show that mud diapirs have influenced the formation of bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) and the distribution of gas hydrates and free gas. On reflection seismic profiles, five seismic facies were observed and are characterised by: stratified parallel reflections; contorted reflections; semi-parallel, high-amplitude reflections; oblique, continuous high-amplitude reflections; and generally transparent reflections. These seismic facies were respectively interpreted as hemipelagic sediments, mass transport deposits (MTDs), sandstone-rich turbidites, overbank deposits and mud diapirs. The gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) is characterized by (i) high amplitude reflections with an analogous phase to that of seafloor, possibly indicating potential porous sandstone-rich turbidite reservoirs; (ii) BSRs showing polarity reversal relative to seafloor, suggesting higher impedance gas hydrates overlying lower impedance intervals with free gas; (iii) blanking reflections in fault zones, interpreted as gas-bearing fluid conduits; (iv) strong reflections on the flanks of mud diapirs (e.g. flank drags) and above buried mud diapirs, demonstrating the presence of gas hydrates; (v) high amplitude reflections dragging on diapiric flanks with reversed phase to that of seafloor, indicating free gas -charged zones abutting mud diapirs; and (vi) the presence of focused advection and diffusion flow through mud diapirs and faults, which is interpreted to control the migration of thermogenic gas. Based on the distribution of seismic amplitude characteristics and reflection strength with respect to depth of the BSRs, hydrocarbon prospects can be divided into gas-hydrate compartments above BSRs, free gas compartments above BSRs, and free gas compartments below BSRs. From a combination of geobody extraction and Monte Carlo simulation, the prospects appear to hold about 2048 Bcf (billion cubic feet) of total gas volume over a study area of 60 km². These observations provide first-order estimates of methane resources in the Lower Fangliao Basin offshore southwestern Taiwan.     

An Open Grid Services Architecture Primer

To expand the use of distributed computer infrastructures as well as facilitate grid interoperability, OGSA has developed standards and specifications that address a range of scenarios, including high-throughput computing, federated data management, and service mobility.     

Defective transfer RNA-queuine modification in C3H10T1/2 murine fibroblasts transfected with oncogenic ras

tRNA isoacceptors for aspartic acid, asparagine, histidine, and tyrosine are modified in the anticodon wobble position with the deazaguanine analogue queuine. Queuine modification is defective in many tumors and transformed cell lines, and the extent of hypomodification correlates with staging and outcome in numerous human tumors. The molecular role of queuine modification in normal cells and the mechanisms of queuine hypomodification in tumors are unknown. We have characterized nontransformed C3H10T1/2 murine fibroblasts (C3H) and their ras-transfected counterparts (RasC4) with respect to the causes and effects of queuine hypomodification. RasC4 cells are hypomodified for queuine compared with C3H cells, despite increase tRNA-guanine ribosyltansferase activity. Excess exogenous queuine can cause repletion of tRNA queuine levels in RasC4 cells. Queuine modification of both C3H and RasC4 cells can be decreased by treatment with 7-methylguanine. This treatment does not affect growth in monolayer culture but enhances anchorage-independent growth of RasC4 cells greatly. These cell lines may be useful systems for the study of queuine function in normal cells and the causes and consequences of hypomodification for queuine in tumors.     

Auditory attention in hyperactive children: Effects of stimulant medication on dichotic listening performance.

Administered dichotic digit tasks requiring free report and selective listening, respectively, to 20 6–16 yr old hyperactive children. Ss received methylphenidate before 2 experimental sessions and a placebo before 2 control sessions. The stimulant did not improve free-report performance significantly; rather it facilitated or impaired performance, depending on how it affected the order in which stimuli were reported. Similarly, medication had no effect on overall selective-listening performance, but it increased the difficulty of switching attention from one ear to the other. Results demonstrate that stimulants may act to maintain selective attention and to inhibit channel switching. Listening asymmetry, that is, right-ear superiority, was influenced by task variables but not by stimulant medication. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)