Academic literature on the topic 'Ddy current control'

This paper presents new improvements and real result of a stand-alone photovoltaic power system for LED lighting that was developed previously. The actual system, during day, charges a lead acid battery using MPPT algorithm for power transfer optimization, and, during night, it supervises battery discharge and controls the current in the power LED array. The improvements are in hardware and software. The hardware was simplified using only one DC/DC converter and only one microcontroller making it more efficient. The system board uses an ATMEL ATTINY861V microcontroller, a single-ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC), and sensors to read input and output voltages and currents to control all system. The software improvements are made in the battery charging algorithm, battery discharging algorithm, and in current control of the power LED array adjusting the light intensity. Moreover, results are presented showing the balance of energy in a period of 24 hours: first results of the MPPT algorithm in bulk battery charge phase and then the over battery charge phase, both in a sunny day. The power LED current control results are also presented showing a very small error. It turns off at 00 : 00 at each day to reduce the waste of energy. Finally, the balance of energy is studied and presented to help the right projection of the PV power panel needed and the necessary battery capacity.

To investigate the nature of electrophysiological changes in adult cat cardiac ventricular myocytes that may occur when cells are maintained in primary culture for 1-2 wk, the electrophysiology of cells freshly isolated from collagenase-perfused hearts (day 0 controls) was compared with that of cells maintained in primary culture for up to 14 days 1) on a two-dimensional (2D) surface (laminin-coated coverslips), which allowed for changes in cellular morphology, or 2) in a three-dimensional (3D) alginate matrix, which minimized changes in cell shape. Action potentials and whole cell ionic currents were recorded using a conventional whole cell patch technique. Whereas cellular resting potential and the depth of the "notch" terminating phase 1 were diminished relative to controls in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells, the action potential duration and the incidence of early afterdepolarizations (EADs) were increased relative to controls in 2D- but not in 3D-cultured cells. Corresponding alterations in whole cell ionic currents included a 40% reduction in inwardly rectifying K current (IK1) conductance (GK1) and a 90% reduction in transient outward K current (Ito) conductance (Gto) in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells relative to day 0 controls and a 50% increase in L-type Ca current (ICa-L) conductance (GCa-L) in 2D-cultured cells relative to 3D-cultured cells and day 0 controls. The reduction in Gto in long-term culture was half-maximal by days 7 and 8 and could not be attributed to reduced Ito availability, involvement of a noninactivating Ito, the cell culture procedure itself, or the presence of serum in the culture media. Gto was larger in day 0 cells from a heart with right ventricular hypertrophy than in day 0 normal control cells and was reduced subsequent to placement of cells in 3D culture for 19 days. The results suggest that long-term culture and change in cellular morphology can affect the electrophysiology of cardiac ventricular myocytes.

Background: The present study was conducted to investigate the potential protective effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) against lead acetate-induced toxicity. Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups and treated simultaneously, except for the normal control, for 5 weeks with lead acetate in drinking water (1000 mg/L). Control rats and negative control rats received saline intraperitoneally. At the same time, the third group was treated with intraperitoneal injections of CeNPs at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg 1 week before lead administration, and continued with its administration. Finally, serum was obtained by the conventional methods and rats were sacrificed to obtain liver, heart, testis, and kidney tissue for histopathological examinations. Results: The lead-treated group showed significant increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P<0.01). Lead-intoxicated rats treated with CeNPs showed a significant decrease in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), AST, and ALT levels compared to the untreated negative control group (P<0.01). The histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissues showed signs of lead-induced injuries, necrotic hepatocytes, and glomerulosclerosis. The CeNPs-treated group showed noticeable reductions in histopathological signs of lead-induced injuries. Lipid peroxidation levels were also lower in CeNPs-treated rats than negative controls (P<0.05). Conclusion: The current experimental study proved the protective effects of CeNPs in rats exposed to chronic lead-induced toxicity; however, more experiments are required to evaluate the possible side effects and interactions.

To determine the response of cardiac Na current (INa) in adult cardiac ventricular myocytes to culture, single isolated ventricular myocytes from collagenase-perfused adult cat hearts were placed in primary culture for up to 2 wk on a two-dimensional (2D) surface (laminin-coated coverslips), which allowed the morphology of the myocytes to change markedly, or in a three-dimensional matrix (3D) of alginate, in which cell shape changed only minimally. Action potentials and INa were recorded from groups of 1) freshly isolated myocytes serving as the control (day 0),2) cells maintained in 2D culture for 9-14 days (2D, day 9-14), and 3) cells cultured in alginate for 9-14 days (3D, day 9-14) with use of a conventional whole cell patch technique. Maximal upstroke velocity (Vmax) of the action potential was reduced by approximately 50% in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells relative to controls. INa in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells was strikingly different from that in control myocytes. Half-maximal voltage (V 1/2) for the chord conductance-voltage relationship was shifted approximately 15 mV negatively to that for controls in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells. INa steady-state availability curve also shifted negatively relative to controls in 2D- and 3D-cultured myocytes, but the magnitude of this shift (approximately 16-20 mV) was greater than that for the chord conductance-voltage curve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Using patch-clamp techniques, we studied the plasticity of acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC) and transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) channel function in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons retrogradely labeled from the bladder. Saline (control) or cyclophosphamide (CYP) was given intraperitoneally on days 1, 3, and 5. On day 6, lumbosacral (LS, L6–S2) or thoracolumbar (TL, T13–L2) DRG were removed and dissociated. Bladders and bladder DRG neurons from CYP-treated rats showed signs of inflammation (greater myeloperoxidase activity; lower intramuscular wall pH) and increased size (whole cell capacitance), respectively, compared with controls. Most bladder neurons (>90%) responded to protons and capsaicin. Protons produced multiphasic currents with distinct kinetics, whereas capsaicin always triggered a sustained response. The TRPV1 receptor antagonist A-425619 abolished capsaicin-triggered currents and raised the threshold of heat-activated currents. Prolonged exposure to an acidic environment (pH range: 7.2 to 6.6) inhibited proton-evoked currents, potentiated the capsaicin-evoked current, and reduced the threshold of heat-activated currents in LS and TL bladder neurons. CYP treatment reduced density but not kinetics of all current components triggered by pH 5. In contrast, CYP-treatment was associated with an increased current density in response to capsaicin in LS and TL bladder neurons. Correspondingly, heat triggered current at a significantly lower temperature in bladder neurons from CYP-treated rats compared with controls. These results reveal that cystitis differentially affects TRPV1- and ASIC-mediated currents in both bladder sensory pathways. Acidification of the bladder wall during inflammation may contribute to changes in nociceptive transmission mediated through the TRPV1 receptor, suggesting a role for TRPV1 in hypersensitivity associated with cystitis.

A mathematical model is proposed to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) slip flow in a shrinking permeable channel to simulate and scrutinize the effects of Hall current in a rotating frame of reference. The lower plate of the channel is shrinking permeable and subjected to uniform suction. The partial differential equations governing the flow are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using suitable similarity transformation. Numerical computations are performed with the shooting iteration scheme alongside Runge-Kutta fourth-order method. The physical behavior of obtained solution are investigated diagrammatically by considering the effects of various pertinent parameters. Numerical results reveal that an increase in Hall parameter leads to an increase in secondary flow. Results also reveal that rotation and slip at the surface of sheet substantially influence the flow, and control the shear stress.

AbstractApproximately 40 deep water oil production platforms and drilling rigs continue to provide real-time current profile data to NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). The NDBC receives and quality controls the data and transmits it over the Global Telecommunications System. The NDBC stores the raw binary current profile data where it can be extracted in order to forecast the Loop Current and Loop Eddies for oil and transportation concerns in the Gulf of Mexico and to investigate the oceanography of the northern Gulf of Mexico. After quality control, the NDBC also stores the processed data.In addition to aiding the oil and gas industry to understand and design for the forces in the water column generated by strong currents in the Gulf of Mexico, the three years of ocean profile data show a number of oceanographic phenomena. This paper presents an examination of the Loop Current and associated eddies based on the oil and gas industry data. The high currents of the Loop Current that extend to several hundred meters depth are present and generally impact oil platforms as it moves into the northern Gulf of Mexico. Loop Eddies exhibit many of the same characteristics as the Loop Current, then move into the western Gulf of Mexico to impact oil platforms there before currents diminish. Cyclonic eddies formed from interactions between the Loop Current and topographic or land features are also present. Five-day plots of the current profiles show the passage of eddies. Wind-driven inertial currents propagate throughout the water column in all regions of the Gulf. The current profiles from delayed-mode, bottom-mounted profilers show that hurricane-generated near-inertial currents reach great depths.

With the increasing asymmetry of the three-phase load, the problem of three-phase imbalance in power system is becoming more serious every day. Asymmetrical three-phase voltages and currents affect the safe and stable operation of the power system.The main direction for solving the problem of unbalanced three-phase power system is reactive power compensation. But in present paper, we demonstrate a new method. First, we load the single-phase load into the phase with smallest current and keep oscillation. Then, considering that system stability requires as small as possible imbalance, so we treat line current as criterion and adjust part load into system phases to reduce the neutral current to a value less action. Thus we can achieve homeostasis of three-phase load. We also have realized it by simulation.

We studied sensitization of retrogradely labeled bladder sensory neurons and plasticity of P2X receptor function in a model of cystitis using patch-clamp techniques. Saline (control) or cyclophosphamide (CYP) was given intraperitoneally to rats on days 0, 2, and 4. On day 5, lumbosacral (LS, L6–S2) or thoracolumbar (TL, T12–L2) dorsal root ganglia were removed and dissociated. Bladders from CYP-treated rats showed partial loss of the urothelium and greater myeloperoxidase activity compared with controls. Bladder neurons from CYP-treated rats were increased in size (based on whole cell capacitance) compared with controls and exhibited lower activation threshold, increased action potential width, and greater number of action potentials in response to current injection or application of purinergic agonists. Most control LS bladder neurons (>85%) responded to ATP or α,β-metATP with a slowly desensitizing current; these agonists affected only half of TL neurons, producing predominantly fast/mixed desensitizing currents. CYP treatment increased the fraction of TL bladder neurons sensitive to purinergic agonists (>80%) and significantly increased current density in both LS and TL bladder neurons compared with control. Importantly, LS and TL neurons from CYP-treated rats showed a selective increase in the functional expression of heteromeric P2X2/3 and homomeric P2X3 receptors, respectively. Although desensitizing kinetics were slower in LS neurons from CYP-treated compared with control rats, recovery kinetics were similar. The present results demonstrate that bladder inflammation sensitizes and increases P2X receptor expression and/or function for both pelvic and lumbar splanchnic pathways, which contribute, in part, to the hypersensitivity associated with cystitis.

Магістерська дисертація містить 112 листа, 25 рисунків, 23 таблиць, 18 джерел за переліком посилань. У дисертації приведений аналіз елементів конструкцій, як об’єкта НК контролю. Підтверджена доцільність використання вихрострумового неруйнівного контролю для виявлення дефектів типу поверхневих та підповерхневих утомних тріщин та оцінки їх параметрів. Проведений огляд можливих методів опрацювання прийнятих сигналів за наявними годографами відносної внесеної напруги. Розглянуто типи накладних та прохідних вихрострумових перетворювачів. Проведений аналіз підтвердив доцільність використання вихрострумового перетворювача трансформаторного типу з диференційно з’єднаними вимірювальними котушками. Підчас аналізу годографів внесеної напруги від дефекту було виявлено можливості більш детального кількісного оцінювання параметрів дефекту за вихідним сигналом ВСП. Отримані за годографом внесеної напруги від дефекту орієнтовні градуювальні характеристики для параметрів дефектів дали змогу прослідкувати особливості зміни фази та амплітуди прийнятого сигналу ВСП від глибини залягання та глибини дефекту. . Запропоновані технічні рішення дають змогу автоматизувати процес контролю щодо прийняття рішення про наявність дефекту та оцінювання числових показників дефектів.
The master's dissertation contains 82 letters, 25 figures, 23 tables, 18 sources according to the list of references. The dissertation presents an analysis of structural elements as an object of NC control. The expediency of using eddy current non-destructive testing to detect defects such as surface and subsurface fatigue cracks and evaluate their parameters has been confirmed. A review of possible methods of processing the received signals according to the available hodographs of the relative applied voltage. Types of overhead and through-flow eddy current converters are considered. The analysis confirmed the feasibility of using an eddy current transducer of the transformer type with differentially connected measuring coils. During the analysis of hodographs of the applied stress from the defect, the possibilities of a more detailed quantitative assessment of the defect parameters according to the VSP output signal were revealed. The approximate calibration characteristics for the defect parameters obtained from the hodograph of the applied stress from the defect made it possible to trace the peculiarities of the phase and amplitude change of the received GSP signal from the depth and depth of the defect. . The proposed technical solutions make it possible to automate the process of control over the decision on the presence of a defect and the evaluation of numerical indicators of defects.

This thesis experimentally demonstrates four approaches of frequency control of magnetic auto-oscillations in spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs). The frequency can be changed in the GHZ-range by external magnetic fields as shown in this work. This approach uses large electromagnets, which is inconvenient for future applications. The nonlinear coupling between oscillator power and frequency can be used to control the latter one by changing the applied direct current to the SHNO. The frequency can be controlled over a range of several 100 MHz as demonstrated in this thesis. The first part of the experimental chapter demonstrates the synchronization (injection-locking) between magnetic auto-oscillations and an external microwave excitation. The additionally applied microwave current generates a modulation of the effective magnetic field, which causes the interaction with the auto-oscillation. Both synchronize over a range of several 100 MHz. In this range, the auto-oscillation frequency can be controlled by the external stimulus. An increase of power and a decrease of line width is achieved in the synchronization range. This is explained by the increased coherence of the auto-oscillations. A second approach is the synchronization of auto-oscillations to an alternating magnetic field. This field is generated by a freestanding antenna, which is positioned above the SHNO. The second part of the experimental chapter introduces a bipolar concept of SHNOs and its experimental demonstration. In contrast to conventional SHNOs, bipolar SHNOs generate auto-oscillations for both direct current polarities and both directions of the external magnetic field. This is achieved by combining two ferromagnetic layers in an SHNO. The combination of two different ferromagnetic materials is used to switch between two frequency ranges in dependence of the direct current polarity since it defines the layer showing auto-oscillations. This approach can be used to change the frequency in the GHz-range by switching the direct current polarity.
Diese Arbeit demonstriert experimentell vier verschiedene Methoden der Frequenzkontrolle magnetischer Auto-Oszillationen in Spin Hall Nano-Oszillatoren (SHNOs). Durch externe magnetische Felder kann die Frequenz im GHz-Bereich geändert werden, wie es in dieser Arbeit gezeigt wird. Dies erfordert jedoch große Elektromagneten, deren Nutzung für zukünftige Anwendungen der SHNOs nicht geeignet sind. Aufgrund der nichtlinearen Kopplung zwischen Oszillatorleistung und Oszillatorfrequenz, lässt sich letztere durch den Versorgungsstrom beeinflussen. Dies ist typischerweise in einem Bereich von mehreren 100 MHz möglich, wie es an mehreren Stellen dieser Arbeit gezeigt wird. Im ersten Abschnitt des Ergebnisteils wird die Synchronisation der magnetischen Auto-Oszillationen zu einer externen Mikrowellenanregung demonstriert. Der zusätzlich eingespeiste Mikrowellenstrom erzeugt eine Modulation des effektiven Magnetfelds, was zur Wechselwirkung mit den Auto-Oszillationen führt. Diese synchronisieren über eine Frequenzdifferenz von mehreren 100 MHz. In diesem Bereich lässt sich die Frequenz der Auto-Oszillation mit der äußeren Frequenz steuern. Innerhalb des Synchronisationsbereichs wird außerdem eine Erhöhung der Leistung und eine Verringerung der Linienbreite der Auto-Oszillationen festgestellt. Dies wird mit einer Erhöhung der Kohärenz der Auto-Oszillationen erklärt. Neben der zusätzlichen Einspeisung eines Mikrowellenstroms können die Auto-Oszillationen auch zu einem magnetischen Wechselfeld synchronisieren, welches von einer frei beweglichen Antenne erzeugt wird, die über dem SHNO positioniert wird. Im zweiten Abschnitt des Ergebnisteils wird ein bipolares Konzept eines SHNO vorgestellt und seine Funktionsfähigkeit experimentell nachgewiesen. Im Vergleich zu konventionellen SHNOs erzeugen bipolare SHNOs Auto-Oszillationen für beide Polaritäten des elektrischen Versorgungsstroms und beide Richtungen des externen Magnetfelds. Dies wird durch die Kombination zweier ferromagnetischer Lagen in einem SHNO erreicht. Die Kombination unterschiedlicher ferromagnetischer Materialien kann genutzt werden, um die Mikrowellenfrequenz in Abhängigkeit der Stromrichtung zu ändern, da diese bestimmt in welcher Lage die Auto-Oszillationen erzeugt werden können. Durch eine geeignete Materialkombination kann die Frequenz im GHz-Bereich geändert werden, wenn die Strompolarität umgekehrt wird.

This article discusses nanoionics phenomena and their applications for making new types of electronic devices. It begins with an overview of ionic conductive materials, which are classified into two categories in terms of the charged particles: solid electrolytes in which only ions contribute to the current flow, and mixed electronic and ionic conductors in which bothelectrons and ions contribute to the current flow. It then describes the solid electrochemical reaction that controls metal-filament growth and shrinkage in an atomic switch, along with the fundamentals of an atomic switch. It also considers new types of atomic switches and several applications of atomic switches. Finally, it highlights some novel characteristics of the atomic switch such as small size, low power consumption, non-volatility, and low on-resistance. These characteristics enable us to improve the performance of present-day electronic devices.

The purpose of this book is to provide a useful, easily accessible, and user-friendly clinical tool that can be used in the every day clinical practice. Definition, epidemiology, aetiology, and pathophysiology and genetics of cardiac diseases are summarized according to recent evidence. Presentation of diseases, physical findings and investigations for a contemporary, evidence- based approach are organized in a clear and instructive manner. The management of the patient is presented according to most recent randomized control trials and recommendations of guidelines by the ACC/AHA and the ESC. Most recent guidelines and updates have been collected for each topic, and current recommendations have been extracted and presented in abbreviated tables. The reference list is aimed at presenting seminal studies that support statements in the book, randomized control trials that are dictating modern management, and scholarly, instructive reviews that have appeared in the major cardiology journals. Recent only articles are presented in order to guide potential further reading. The on-line editions of the book are updated on a regular basis.

Chapter 5 begins with risk sociology’s understanding of intimacy as “a dogmatism for two” to explore an interdisciplinary mix of theory, including Tim Palmer’s analysis of the cinema of “brutal intimacy”; Tanya Modleski’s recognition of a current horror genre inflection of new desires for unleashing sexuality, violence, and control; Kelley Conway’s recognition of an authorship of considerable diversity in the context of films made by women about female sexuality in French culture; Raymond Williams’s concept of historical “structures of feeling”; Beck and Beck-Gernsheim’s “normal chaos of love”; and Giddens’s “transformation of intimacy.” Within these contexts, the films Twentynine Palms, Trouble Every Day, and Irréversible are analyzed textually, exploring genre, narrative, visual shot style, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, and spatial mapping (and the disruption of all these categories), with a particular focus on the road film Twentynine Palms.

Every day people decide what to eat, how to educate their children, where to find health care, and how to connect to others. For many, freely choosing a lifestyle defines the American dream. But in the 21st century, these choices are increasingly constructed by corporations and designed not to promote well-being, happiness, and planetary health, but to increase corporate profits and power. As a result, the decisions that corporations encourage individuals to make can lead to premature death, illness, or psychological distress as well as environmental pollution and social conflict. At What Cost: Modern Capitalism and the Future of Health maps the landscape of the changing role of capitalism in shaping health in America, documenting the human costs of the dominant political and economic system. It describes how globalization, financial speculation, monopoly concentration, and business control of science and technology have enhanced the ability of corporations and their allies to overwhelm influences of government, family, and community. It analyses how 21st-century capitalism structures the choices that affect the well-being of individuals, families, communities, and the planet. The book also explores how people, governments, civil society, and social movements are challenging corporate domination and forging alternative paths to a healthier, more sustainable world. While other books have explored pieces of this story, At What Cost offers a comprehensive analysis of the health consequences of modern capitalism. It provides citizens, parents, activists, scholars, and policy makers with the evidence they need to construct a better world for current and future generations.

Management of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) currently comprises non-specific measures including promotion of healthy lifestyle, optimization of blood pressure control, and modification of cardiovascular risk factors. A high water intake of 3–4 L per day in patients with glomerular filtration rate greater than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 may decrease the risk of kidney stones, but its potential benefit in reducing renal cyst growth is presently unproven. Maintenance of a target blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg is recommended by expert clinical guidelines though this is unlikely to slow cyst growth. It is unclear whether pharmacological blockade of the renin–angiotensin axis confers an extrarenal protective effect. Recognition of the variable clinical presentations of cyst infection, cyst haemorrhage, or nephrolithiasis is important for early diagnosis and optimal management of these complications. Most patients with ADPKD do well on dialysis and after transplantation. Nephrectomy may be needed to make space for a donor kidney, or if kidney size or infection is an issue after end-stage renal failure is reached. Recent advances in ADPKD have led to the identification of multiple potential therapeutic targets with more than 10 clinical trials completed or currently in progress. Given the promising results of the TEMPO trial, tolvaptan may well be the first disease-modifying drug to be approved for clinical use. Several other classes of drugs (e.g. somatostatin analogues, triptolide, metformin, and glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors) with good long-term safety profiles are promising candidates which may be repurposed for this disease. In the future, identifying patients with different risks of renal disease progression by their genotype and/or kidney volume will likely assume an important role for the clinical management of ADPKD.

The first CBs were private institutions that were given a monopoly over the issuance of currency by government in return for help in financing the budget and adherence to the rules of the gold standard. Under this standard the price of gold in terms of currency was fixed and the CB could issue or retire domestic currency only in line with gold inflows or outflows. Due to the scarcity of gold this system assured price stability as long as it functioned. Wars and depressions led to the replacement of the gold standard by the more flexible gold exchange standard. Along with restrictions on international capital flows this standard became a major pillar of the post–WWII Bretton Woods system. Under this system the U.S. dollar (USD) was pegged to gold, and other countries’ exchange rates were pegged to the USD. In many developing economies CBs functioned as governmental development banks.Following the world inflation of the 1970s and the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971, eradication of inflation gradually became the explicit number one priority of CBs. The hyperinflationary experiences of the first half of the 20th century, which were mainly caused by over-utilization of the printing press to finance budgetary expenditures, convinced policymakers in developed economies, following Germany’s lead, that the conduct of monetary policy should be delegated to instrument independent CBs, that governments should be prohibited from borrowing from them, and that the main goal of the CB should be price stability. During the late 1980s and the 1990s numerous CBs obtained instrument independence and started to operate on inflation targeting systems. Under this system the CB is expected to use interest rate policy to deliver a low inflation rate in the long run and to stabilize fluctuations in economic activity in the short and medium terms. In parallel the fixed exchange rates of the Bretton Woods system were replaced by flexible rates or dirty floats. The conjunction of more flexible rates and IT effectively moved the control over exchange rates from governments to CBs.The global financial crisis reminded policymakers that, of all public institutions, the CB has a comparative advantage in swiftly preventing the crisis from becoming a generalized panic that would seriously cripple the financial system. The crisis precipitated the financial stability motive into the forefront of CBs’ policy concerns and revived the explicit recognition of the lender of last resort function of the CB in the face of shocks to the financial system. Although the financial stability objective appeared in CBs’ charters, along with the price stability objective, also prior to the crisis, the crisis highlighted the critical importance of the supervisory and regulatory functions of CBs and other regulators. An important lesson from the crisis was that micro-prudential supervision and regulation should be supplemented with macro-prudential regulation and that the CB is the choice institution to perform this function. The crisis led CBs of major developed economies to reduce their policy rates to zero (and even to negative values in some cases) and to engage in large-scale asset purchases that bloat their balance sheets to this day. It also induced CBs of small open economies to supplement their interest rate policies with occasional foreign exchange interventions.

The monograph reflects the problems of Russian psycholinguistics from the moment of its inception in Russia to the present day and presents its main directions that are currently developing. In addition, theoretical developments and practical results obtained in the framework of different directions and research centers are described in a concise form. The task of the book is to reflect, as far as it is possible in one edition, firstly, the history of the formation of Russian psycholinguistics; secondly, its methodology and developed methods; thirdly, the results obtained in different research centers and directions in different regions of Russia; fourthly, to outline the main directions of the further development of Russian psycholinguistics. There is no doubt that in the theoretical, methodological and applied aspects, the main problems and the results of their development by Russian psycholinguistics have no analogues in world linguistics and psycholinguistics, or are represented by completely original concepts and methods. We have tried to show this uniqueness of the problematics and the methodological equipment of Russian psycholinguistics in this book. The main role in the formation of Russian psycholinguistics was played by the Moscow psycholinguistic school of A.A. Leontyev. It still defines the main directions of Russian psycholinguistics. Russian psycholinguistics (the theory of speech activity - TSA) is based on the achievements of Russian psychology: a cultural-historical approach to the analysis of mental phenomena L.S. Vygotsky and the system-activity approach of A.N. Leontyev. Moscow is the most "psycholinguistic region" of Russia - INL RAS, Moscow State University, Moscow State Linguistic University, RUDN, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Sechenov University, Moscow State University and other Moscow universities. Saint Petersburg psycholinguists have significant achievements, especially in the study of neurolinguistic problems, ontolinguistics. The most important feature of Russian psycholinguistics is the widespread development of psycholinguistics in the regions, the emergence of recognized psycholinguistic research centers - St. Petersburg, Tver, Saratov, Perm, Ufa, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kursk, Chelyabinsk; psycholinguistics is represented in Cherepovets, Ivanovo, Volgograd, Vyatka, Kaluga, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Abakan, Maikop, Barnaul, Ulan-Ude, Yakutsk, Syktyvkar, Armavir and other cities; in Belarus - Minsk, in Ukraine - Lvov, Chernivtsi, Kharkov, in the DPR - Donetsk, in Kazakhstan - Alma-Ata, Chimkent. Our researchers work in Bulgaria, Hungary, Vietnam, China, France, Switzerland. There are Russian psycholinguists in Canada, USA, Israel, Austria and a number of other countries. All scientists from these regions and countries have contributed to the development of Russian psycholinguistics, to the development of psycholinguistic theory and methods of psycholinguistic research. Their participation has not been forgotten. We tried to present the main Russian psycholinguists in the Appendix - in the sections "Scientometrics", "Monographs and Manuals" and "Dissertations", even if there is no information about them in the Electronic Library and RSCI. The principles of including scientists in the scientometric list are presented in the Appendix. Our analysis of the content of the resulting monograph on psycholinguistic research in Russia allows us to draw preliminary conclusions about some of the distinctive features of Russian psycholinguistics: 1. cultural-historical approach to the analysis of mental phenomena of L.S.Vygotsky and the system-activity approach of A.N. Leontiev as methodological basis of Russian psycholinguistics; 2. theoretical nature of psycholinguistic research as a characteristic feature of Russian psycholinguistics. Our psycholinguistics has always built a general theory of the generation and perception of speech, mental vocabulary, linked specific research with the problems of ontogenesis, the relationship between language and thinking; 3. psycholinguistic studies of speech communication as an important subject of psycholinguistics; 4. attention to the psycholinguistic analysis of the text and the development of methods for such analysis; 5. active research into the ontogenesis of linguistic ability; 6. investigation of linguistic consciousness as one of the important subjects of psycholinguistics; 7. understanding the need to create associative dictionaries of different types as the most important practical task of psycholinguistics; 8. widespread use of psycholinguistic methods for applied purposes, active development of applied psycholinguistics. The review of the main directions of development of Russian psycholinguistics, carried out in this monograph, clearly shows that the direction associated with the study of linguistic consciousness is currently being most intensively developed in modern Russian psycholinguistics. As the practice of many years of psycholinguistic research in our country shows, the subject of study of psycholinguists is precisely linguistic consciousness - this is a part of human consciousness that is responsible for generating, understanding speech and keeping language in consciousness. Associative experiments are the core of most psycholinguistic techniques and are important both theoretically and practically. The following main areas of practical application of the results of associative experiments can be outlined. 1. Education. Associative experiments are the basis for constructing Mind Maps, one of the most promising tools for systematizing knowledge, assessing the quality, volume and nature of declarative knowledge (and using special techniques and skills). Methods based on smart maps are already widely used in teaching foreign languages, fast and deep immersion in various subject areas. 2. Information search, search optimization. The results of associative experiments can significantly improve the quality of information retrieval, its efficiency, as well as adaptability for a specific person (social group). When promoting sites (promoting them in search results), an associative experiment allows you to increase and improve the quality of the audience reached. 3. Translation studies, translation automation. An associative experiment can significantly improve the quality of translation, take into account intercultural and other social characteristics of native speakers. 4. Computational linguistics and automatic word processing. The results of associative experiments make it possible to reveal the features of a person's linguistic consciousness and contribute to the development of automatic text processing systems in a wide range of applications of natural language interfaces of computer programs and robotic solutions. 5. Advertising. The use of data on associations for specific words, slogans and texts allows you to predict and improve advertising texts. 6. Social relationships. The analysis of texts using the data of associative experiments makes it possible to assess the tonality of messages (negative / positive moods, aggression and other characteristics) based on user comments on the Internet and social networks, in the press in various projections (by individuals, events, organizations, etc.) from various social angles, to diagnose the formation of extremist ideas. 7. Content control and protection of personal data. Associative experiments improve the quality of content detection and filtering by identifying associative fields in areas subject to age restrictions, personal information, tobacco and alcohol advertising, incitement to ethnic hatred, etc. 8. Gender and individual differences. The data of associative experiments can be used to compare the reactions (and, in general, other features of thinking) between men and women, different social and age groups, representatives of different regions. The directions for the further development of Russian psycholinguistics from the standpoint of the current state of psycholinguistic science in the country are seen by us, first of all:  in the development of research in various areas of linguistic consciousness, which will contribute to the development of an important concept of speech as a verbal model of non-linguistic consciousness, in which knowledge revealed by social practice and assigned by each member of society during its inculturation is consolidated for society and on its behalf;  in the expansion of the problematics, which is formed under the influence of the growing intercultural communication in the world community, which inevitably involves the speech behavior of natural and artificial bilinguals in the new object area of psycholinguistics;  in using the capabilities of national linguistic corpora in the interests of researchers studying the functioning of non-linguistic and linguistic consciousness in speech processes;  in expanding research on the semantic perception of multimodal texts, the scope of which has greatly expanded in connection with the spread of the Internet as a means of communication in the life of modern society;  in the inclusion of the problems of professional communication and professional activity in the object area of psycholinguistics in connection with the introduction of information technologies into public practice, entailing the emergence of new professions and new features of the professional ethos;  in the further development of the theory of the mental lexicon (identifying the role of different types of knowledge in its formation and functioning, the role of the word as a unit of the mental lexicon in the formation of the image of the world, as well as the role of the natural / internal metalanguage and its specificity in speech activity);  in the broad development of associative lexicography, which will meet the most diverse needs of society and cognitive sciences. The development of associative lexicography may lead to the emergence of such disciplines as associative typology, associative variantology, associative axiology;  in expanding the spheres of applied use of psycholinguistics in social sciences, sociology, semasiology, lexicography, in the study of the brain, linguodidactics, medicine, etc. This book is a kind of summarizing result of the development of Russian psycholinguistics today. Each section provides a bibliography of studies on the relevant issue. The Appendix contains the scientometrics of leading Russian psycholinguists, basic monographs, psycholinguistic textbooks and dissertations defended in psycholinguistics. The content of the publications presented here is convincing evidence of the relevance of psycholinguistic topics and the effectiveness of the development of psycholinguistic problems in Russia.

AbstractThe system of export control regimes is an important instrument to prevent the proliferation of both weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons. However, this system faces several structural and recent challenges. The regimes are informal, and consequently, their measures are non-binding upon states. Second, the regimes consist of a selective group of countries, excluding some dominant arms exporters. New technology is rapidly changing the military field, and it is difficult for the export control regimes to keep up with these developments. Further, most of the regimes were designed when states were the most important international actors while currently legitimate and illegitimate non-state actors play an ever-increasing role for export controls. In addition, it is unclear how the regimes will advance with the multipolar world order of the twenty-first century. All new developments could lead to the proliferation of weapons, making efforts to prevent proliferation more relevant than ever. There are several opportunities to reform and strengthen the export control regimes. Cooperation could help the regimes to remain relevant. The sharing of good practices can help the regimes to find the least disruptive and effective non-proliferation measures. Setting up a paradigm-based regime instead of a weapon-based regime may be more suitable for the future. In addition, a revision of the decision-making process would help the regimes to respond swiftly to developments in the field.

Abstract Climate change and soil fertility decline are threatening food security in southern Africa and efforts have been made to adapt current cropping systems to the needs of smallholder farmers. Conservation Agriculture (CA) based on minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop diversification has been proposed as a strategy to address the challenges smallholder farmers face. Here we analyse the potential contributions of CA towards adaptation to the effects of climate change by summarizing data on infiltration, soil moisture dynamics and crop productivity under heat and drought stress. The data were taken in the main from CIMMYT's on-farm and on-station trial network. Data show that CA systems maintain 0.7-7.9 times higher water infiltration than the conventional tilled system depending on soil type, which increases soil moisture during the cropping season by 11%-31% between CA treatments and the conventional control treatment. This leads to greater adaptive capacity of CA systems during in-season dry spells and under heat stress. A supporting regional maize productivity assessment, analysing the results of numerous on-farm and on-station experiments, showed that CA systems will outperform conventional tillage practices (CP), especially on light-textured soils, under heat and drought stress. With higher rainfall and low heat stress, this relation was more positive towards CP and on clay soil there was no benefit of practising CA when rainfall was high. The long dry season and limited biomass production of CA systems in southern Africa require complementary good agricultural practices to increase other soil quality parameters (e.g. increased soil carbon) to maintain higher productivity and sustainability over time. This can be addressed by combinations of improved stress-tolerant seed, targeted fertilization, inclusion of tree-based components or green manure cover crops in the farming system, scale-appropriate mechanization and improved weed control strategies.

Day case surgery is of benefit to patients, clinicians, staff, and hospital trusts. Careful selection of appropriate patients and procedures is fundamental to providing a safe and effective service. Factors influencing suitability for day case surgery include the type of surgical procedure and anaesthetic planned as well as the fitness of the patient. Selection criteria should consider the availability of resources as well as the particular skill sets of the clinicians and be agreed by surgeons, anaesthetists, and nurses. Patients should be given clear verbal and written instructions regarding their preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative care and discharged with medication to control common postperative complaints, such as pain, nausea, and constipation.

The dry period lays a foundation for a successful next lactation, especially from the udder health perspective. It is a high-risk period for acquiring new intramammary infections (IMI), but it also provides an excellent opportunity for eliminating existing subclinical infections. The way cows are dried off and milking is halted at the end of lactation impacts the involution process, mammary health and cow comfort. Antibiotic dry cow therapy (DCT) has played a crucial part in mastitis control, but due to global concerns about increasing antibiotic resistance, the approach to DCT is evolving. This chapter reviews the current knowledge about the impact of milk cessation methods (abrupt vs. gradual dry-off) on mammary involution, udder health and cow comfort. The importance of dry cow therapy is discussed, especially in the light of current global concerns related to antibiotic resistance.

Infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is about 90% among people over the age of 40. The EBV causes a chronic infection that is characterized by chronic or recurrent symptoms and persists for a long time. Recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) has high clinical and antiviral efficacy in the treatment of herpesvirus infections. 110 patients with chronic EBV infection were examined. The patients were divided into three groups for different treatment regimens: Group 1—IFN-γ therapy (15 injections of Ingaron i/m, 500,000 IU every other day); Group 2—valaciclovir (Valtrex 500 mg × 2 times/day, orally for 2 months); Group 3—valganciclovir (Valcyte 450 mg × 2 times/day, orally for 2 months) and IFN-γ (10–20 injections of Ingaron i/m, 500,000 IU every other day). The best results were obtained in group 3–73.07% negative PCR. In this group, the combination of valganciclovir + IFN-γ was different. We showed that the efficacy of therapy in patients with chronic EBV is determined by the duration of INF-γ administration. We also determined spontaneous and induced production of IFN-α and -γ cytokines in serum and in lymphocyte culture. We demonstrated that in patients with an initially low level of induced IFN-γ, the production of this cytokine significantly increased in three months after the end of therapy.

Salivary dysfunction and a feeling of dryness of the mouth (xerostomia) are common characteristics in patients with Sjögren’s. Saliva serves many functions, and salivary dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of dental caries as well as a host of difficulties with the protective features of the oral cavity. Symptomatic and supportive care should include good oral hygiene, proper dietary control, and the use of saliva substitutes, fluoride, and a sialogogue. This chapter will review the role of saliva and treatments that are currently available and discusses ways to maximize the potential benefit of products the patients is either currently using or may have given up on due to improper use or understanding of what the product is intended to do.

The theory chapter explains how scholars analyse current-day post-colonial settlement projects. It shows that much of the focus in the literature is on internal explanations such as settler-driven or an audience costs perspective; or bicommunal/bilateral explanations such as social control or economic utilization.

Current-day network applications require much more secure data storages than anticipated before. With millions of anonymous users using same networking applications, security of data behind the applications have become a major concern of database developers and security experts. In most security incidents, the databases attached to the applications are targeted, and attacks have been made. Most of these applications require allowing data manipulation at several granular levels to the users accessing the applications—not just table and view level, but tuple level. A database that supports fine-grained access control restricts the rows a user sees, based on his/her credentials. Generally, this restriction is enforced by a query modification mechanism automatically done at the database. This feature enables per-user data access within a single database, with the assurance of physical data separation. It is enabled by associating one or more security policies with tables, views, table columns, and table rows. Such a model is ideal for minimizing the complexity of the security enforcements in databases based on network applications. With fine-grained access controls, one can create fast, scalable, and secure network applications. Each application can be written to find the correct balance between performance and security, so that each data transaction is performed as quickly and safely as possible. Today, the database vendors like Oracle 10g, and IBM DB2 provides commercial implementations of fine-grained access control methods, such as filtering rows, masking columns selectively based on the policy, and applying the policy only when certain columns are accessed. The behavior of the fine-grained access control model can also be increased through the use of multiple types of policies based on the nature of the application, making the feature applicable to multiple situations. Meanwhile, Microsoft SQL Server2005 has also come up with emerging features to control the access to databases using fine-grained access controls. Fine-grained access control does not cover all the security issues related to Internet databases, but when implemented, it supports building secure databases rapidly and bringing down the complexity of security management issues.

The Arab region currently faces a worsening air pollution emergency. Due to the dry, arid, and desert-like conditions of the region, as well as a rise in industrialization, urbanization, construction activities, population growth, and impacts of wars and conflicts, the concentration of air pollutants is very high across the region. The detrimental effects of ground level air pollutants on public health, safety, and the environment in Arab states raises the urgent need for clear and comprehensive legal frameworks on air pollution control. This chapter examines the meaning, causes, and impacts of air pollution in the Arab region, with focus on climate change; stratospheric depletion of the ozone layer; indoor and outdoor air quality concerns; discharge of effluents from extractive industries; and transboundary air pollution. The chapter then provides an overview of key international and regional frameworks and initiatives on air pollution control, their national application across the region, as well as a discussion of practical gaps and challenges that must be addressed to enhance the effectiveness of legislation and policies on air pollution control in Arab States.

Upon long-term storage, germinated grain with 50-60% humidity begins to mold and rot. Therefore, it should be fed off to livestock as soon as possible after its germination. To extend storage life of germinated grain, it is necessary either to dry it to 14% relative humidity, or to carry out its disinfection. Grain forms the basis of combined fodder in agriculture. Some technological solutions are available to provide fodder disinfection optimized in technological or economic terms, as well as rational energy use, including disinfection by high-speed electron bunches, ultra-high frequency electric waves, combined IR and conductive (contact) electric heating, and toxic ozone gas. There also exists a similar solution for fodder premises disinfection through controlling excessive pressure of their internal air. In control by technological (production) criterion, the mode of minimal integrated cost of calculated loss of quality (expenditures) of products being disinfected (fodder) is determined, so the highest livestock productivity in the current context is obtained.

Abstract Developing and using efficient controls for thermal spray processes is essential to produce coatings in a more consistent manner day after day. This paper discussed the different approaches that can be used, today or in the future, to better control spray processes. The various steps or sub-processes involved in thermal spraying are first reviewed identifying the key parameters that can be monitored and controlled. An overview of current sensing techniques and those under development for probing the state of these key parameters will then be presented. Finally, different control approaches will be reviewed looking at the basic knowledge and models required to implement an efficient and intelligent control strategy for thermal spray processes.

National standards for NOx control for gas turbines are being evaluated and modified throughout the world. These standards are often supplemented by local or site specific emission limits. The numeric value of any emission limit is influenced by both the local environmental conditions, and, importantly, by the actual NOx removal capacity of the specific technologies that can be applied to the processes and equipment that will be governed by the emission standards. That is, emission limits can not be so restrictive that there is no technology available that can be applied to meet the permit condition. However, as new technologies are developed to meet the ever increasingly restrictive emission limitations, they become the standard by which the next round of emission limit setting is guided. Current NOx control technologies for gas turbine applications employ fuel switching to a low nitrogen content fuel, wet combustion control (steam or water injection into the combustor), or exhaust gas treatment (selective catalytic reduction technology) or combinations of those controls. Recently, dry combustion controls have been, or are being, developed by the gas turbine manufacturers, and catalytic combustion control processes are being researched. This paper presents a brief overview of the national NOx emission requirements of Europe, Japan, and the United States. A discussion of the new dry, low NOx controls presently emerging in the electric utility, gas turbine market are then reviewed, with an emphasis on the commercial applications and typical operating results that have been experienced. In this paper, all NOx values are referenced to dry, 15% oxygen exhaust conditions unless otherwise stated. The units are volumetric, in parts per million (ppm), unless otherwise stated.

The goal of the work was to study the effect of introducing nitrogenfixing and phosphate-mobilizing bacteria into liquid biohumus on its growth-promoting properties. The group of ammonifying microorganisms dominates in the structure of microbocenosis of liquid biohumus, constituting 98.46 %. The introduction of nitrogenfixing bacterial strains B. aryabhattai Cp-1 and phosphate-mobilizing Ps. Fluorescens Pr-2 at 10 % concentration in 1 % liquid biohumus (initial pH 9.5) changes pH to 7.8. Winter wheat seed treatment with liquid biohumus enriched with Ps. Fluorescens Pr-2 increases length and dry weight of seedlings by 40.0 and 80.2%; with B. aryabhattai Ср-1 – by 16.3 and 2.0% compared to the control (1% liquid biohumus). Application of liquid biohumus enriched with pseudomonades and bacilli for the treatment of cress-lettuce seeds provides increase of length and crude weight of seedlings by 25.7 and 20.0; 5.0 and 10.0%, respectively.

Accurate and continuous measurement of the percent water in crude oil production streams (watercut) over 0 to 100% range is critical for petroleum industry. High accuracy and stability are also required for surface measurement to support process control applications aimed at removing trace amounts of oil and particulates from produced water. This paper is a two-part paper — the first part [1] deals with analytical modeling of the Differential Dielectric Sensors (DDS) and the second part (current paper) discusses the results of key experimental investigations. A dedicated closed-loop experimental facility is used to obtain in-line real-time measurement of DD sensor data in a controlled configuration. A complete description of test facility is presented followed by detailed experimental results. The results show that DDS is unique in its use of very low noise and high sensitivity differential measurements between two identical sensors. In a process control system, DDS shows good measurement stability and is adaptive to composition measurements compensating for changes in oil composition, gas fraction, emulsion state, water NaCl concentration, temperature, and flow rate. Because of its auto calibration capability, DDS can also conduct real time calibration for sensor configuration changes caused by factors such as corrosion and erosion.

The focus of this paper is on the implementation of Data Dependent Systems (DDS) forecasting in to the control algorithm of the 2001 Michigan Tech Future Truck. The 2001 MTU Future Truck is a 2000 model year Chevrolet Suburban and utilizes a powersplit transmission, which is similar to the Toyota Prius, for its hybrid conversion. The main source of propulsion comes from a General Motors, all aluminum block, 3.5L V-6. In the Future Truck, the accessory current is not directly measured, so it must be calculated from the measured motor current, generator current and battery current. Accessory current is defined as the current used by all of the high voltage components such as the power steering and AC compressor, except the primary drive motor. In order for the vehicle to be charge sustaining, the generator must produce the same amount of power consumed by the accessories and the drive motor. This calculation will only indicate what the accessory load was at the previous sample time and not what the accessory load will be at the current sample time. When it comes to control of the vehicle, this creates a lag, and the controls will undershoot or overshoot the desired accessory current, which creates inefficiencies due to excessive power flow into and out of the battery pack. In order to better understand the accessory load, Data Dependent Systems (DDS) modeling was done on accessory current data collected from the test vehicle, and an AR(26) model was concluded to be adequate, based on the residual sum of squares (RSS) and unified auto-correlations. The DDS modeling of the accessory current also led to the forecasting of the accessory loads. This helps keep battery use to a minimum by allowing the generator to create the correct amount of power, at that time step, to operate the accessories. Accessory draw from the batteries and generator overshoot going into the batteries is minimized and therefore the overall efficiency of the vehicle goes up. The vehicle was tested on a 50-mile circuit including city and highway driving and elevation changes. The results from the test vehicle showed a power savings of 892 kJ/hour which improved the fuel economy by 3 mpg over stock. The charge sustainability of the vehicle was also achieved which means the range of the vehicle is only limited by the fuel mileage, similar to a conventional vehicle.

Abstract The purpose of this project was to explore the feasibility of powering a climate control system solely from a renewable energy source. The off-the-shelf cooling system components were taken from a ca. 1986 R-12 residential refrigerator and then reassembled onto a custom enclosure which was constructed to serve as the climate-controlled compartment. The enclosure design was purposefully simple: a rectangular shaped box constructed out of plywood and mounted on wheels together with a plexiglass door which was substituted for the front face. The overall design provided for enhanced mobility while also allowing for easy observation of the interior temperature via an interior-mounted, digital, commercial residential thermostat integrated into the control system. The system, nominally, is triggered by incident solar radiation; the initial set-point temperature was 21 °C. Compressor power was derived solely from renewable energy. Specifically, a pair of 100W 12V monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic solar panels was used to generate electricity which was subsequently stored in a deep-cycle battery. Under steady-state AC operation, the compressor draws approximately 2.1A. Due to system inefficiencies, the corresponding DC current draw is necessarily higher and approaches 22.3A. For a compressor duty cycle ranging from 50–100%, the current draw over a model 9 hr day would range from between 100.1–200.3 A-H. The lower limit is within the energy storage capacity for the fully-charged system, as currently designed.

Regulations are requiring that the emissions from land-based gas turbines be tightly controlled. To limit emissions, the Industrial Trent turbine controls flame temperature through a premixed multi-stage combustor. This requires a multi-path fuel delivery system that provides accurate and repeatable metering of the fuel. There are also requirements that the fuel system quickly stop the flow of fuel and vent appropriate lines in the case of a load rejection or an emergency shutdown. The gas system is a four-path fuel metering system that incorporates shutoff and vent capabilities in addition to high accuracy multi-path flow metering. One of the fuel paths is dedicated to the ignition torch and is significantly smaller and flow accuracies are less demanding than for the three main metering legs. The concentration of work was dedicated to providing highly accurate and repeatable flow metering for the three main fuel legs. There was also a drive to minimize cost and provide commonality of parts between each of the three legs. Current fuel schedules require metering through a 20:1 turn down ratio. Flow through each metering leg is measured in the same manner as flow measurement is performed across an orifice flow meter. The metering valve is a primary element for which the flow characteristics are well known under a large number of valve positions and flow conditions. Analysis and testing has been conducted to define flow accuracy and repeatability. Further work has been conducted to minimize pressure drop across the system and to reduce the number of sensors required.

Since the introduction of electrified transit systems in the United States there has been a number of advancements in the field of corrosion control related to light rail transit (LRT) systems. Modern day direct current (dc) powered LRT systems have been designed with a variety of corrosion control features built-in. Most of the research into corrosion control and the mitigation of stray currents known as electrolysis in the early days of electrified transit systems first appeared extensively in papers prepared and presented by personnel of the National Bureau of Standards. This research has led to better protection against corrosion of transit systems and nearby structures throughout the years. Due to the ever increasing number of transit systems being built or upgraded, it’s essential to incorporate the installation, testing and monitoring of corrosion control measures in these transit systems. By integrating these corrosion control features into the design of LRT systems and subsystems, it will help to prevent premature corrosion failures on LRT fixed facilities and other structures. This paper identifies the main causes of corrosion and how corrosion control can be implemented into the design of LRT systems to prevent damage to the transit system and other structures.

This paper considers the feasibility of a new type of voice coil motor direct drive flow control servo valve. The proposed servo valve controls the flow rate using only a direct measurement of the spool position. A neural network is used to estimate the flow rate based on the spool position, velocity and coil current. The estimated flow rate is fed back to a closed loop controller. The feasibility of the concept is established using simulation techniques only at this point. All results are validated by computer co-simulation using AMESim and Simulink. A simulated model of a VCM-DDV (Voice Coil Motor-Direct Drive Valve) and hydraulic test circuit are built in an AMESim environment. A virtual digital controller is developed in a Simulink environment in which the feedback signals are received from the AMESim model; the controller outputs are sent to the VCM-DDV model in AMESim (by interfacing between these two simulation packages). A LQR (Linear Quadratic Regulator) state feedback and nonlinear compensator controller for spool position tracking is considered as this is the first step for flow control. A flow rate control loop is subsequently included via a neural network flow rate estimator. Simulation results show that this method could control the flow rate to an acceptable degree of precision, but only at low frequencies. This kind of valve can find usage in open loop hydraulic velocity control in many industrial applications.

As noted in a Summer 2007 EPRI Journal article entitled Running Dry At The Power Plant, “Securing sufficient supplies of fresh water for societal, industrial, and agricultural uses while protecting the natural environment is becoming increasingly difficult in many parts of the United States. Climate variability and change may exacerbate the situation through hotter weather and disrupted precipitation patterns that promote regional drought.” Currently, in the United States, thermoelectric power production accounts for approximately 39% of freshwater withdrawals and 3% of overall fresh water consumption. The Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI, as part of its Technology Innovation (TI) program, is collaborating with Johnson Controls to conduct a feasibility study comparing the performance of a water saving Thermosyphon Cooler Hybrid System (TCHS) with other heat rejection systems for power plant applications. The TCHS employs a sensible heat rejection device, a thermosyphon cooler (TSC) in conjunction with an evaporative heat rejection device, an open cooling tower, to satisfy the annual cooling requirements of a given power plant. By reducing the evaporative heat load, the TCHS can significantly reduce the annual water consumed for cooling while still maintaining peak power plant output on the hottest summer days. Operational details of the Thermosyphon Cooler Hybrid System are presented. Additionally an overview of the cooling system simulation program, based on an 8,760 hourly analysis, used in the feasibility study is discussed. Results comparing the water use and additional fan power requirements between power plants employing a traditional all evaporative system and the TCHS are discussed for two different climatic locations. The concept of incorporating the cost of water, cost of power, the current plant operating conditions, and the current ambient dry bulb temperature into the TSC fan control strategy are also explored. The simulation program performance model is currently being validated with testing of a 1MW prototype TCHS at the Water Research Center near Cartersville, GA. Finally, a conceptual design for a power plant scale TCHS is presented.

Salmonella enterica is a worldwide food-borne pathogen, which regularly causes large outbreaks of food poisoning. Recent outbreaks linked to consumption of contaminated foods with low water-activity, have raised interest in understanding the factors that control fitness of this pathogen to dry environment. Consequently, the general objective of this study was to extend our knowledge on desiccation tolerance and long-term persistence of Salmonella. We discovered that dehydrated STm entered into a viable-but-nonculturable state, and that addition of chloramphenicol reduced bacterial survival. This finding implied that adaptation to desiccation stress requires de-novo protein synthesis. We also discovered that dried STm cells develop cross-tolerance to multiple stresses that the pathogen might encounter in the agriculture/food environment, such as high or low temperatures, salt, and various disinfectants. These findings have important implications for food safety because they demonstrate the limitations of chemical and physical treatments currently utilized by the food industry to completely inactivate Salmonella. In order to identify genes involved in desiccation stress tolerance, we employed transcriptomic analysis of dehydrated and wet cells and direct screening of knock-out mutant and transposon libraries. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that dehydration induced expression of ninety genes and down-regulated seven. Ribosomal structural genes represented the most abundant functional group with a relatively higher transcription during dehydration. Other large classes of induced functional groups included genes involved in amino acid metabolism, energy production, ion transport, transcription, and stress response. Initial genetic analysis of a number of up-regulated genes was carried out). It was found that mutations in rpoS, yahO, aceA, nifU, rpoE, ddg,fnr and kdpE significantly compromised desiccation tolerance, supporting their role in desiccation stress response.

Reversible lanes in Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway are an available infrastructure that can significantly improve traffic performance; however, a special focus on congestion management is required to improve their operation. This research project aims to evaluate and improve the operation of reversible lanes in the Kennedy Expressway. The Kennedy Expressway is a nearly 18-mile-long freeway in Chicago, Illinois, that connects in the southeast to northwest direction between the West Loop and O’Hare International Airport. There are two approximately 8-mile reversible lanes in the Kennedy Expressway’s median, where I-94 merges into I-90, and there are three entrance gates in each direction of this corridor. The purpose of the reversible lanes is to help the congested direction of the Kennedy Expressway increase its traffic flow and decrease the delay in the whole corridor. Currently, experts in a control location switch the direction of the reversible lanes two to three times per day by observing real-time traffic conditions captured by a traffic surveillance camera. In general, inbound gates are opened and outbound gates are closed around midnight because morning traffic is usually heavier toward the central city neighborhoods. In contrast, evening peak-hour traffic is usually heavier toward the outbound direction, so the direction of the reversible lanes is switched from inbound to outbound around noon. This study evaluates the Kennedy Expressway’s current reversing operation. Different indices are generated for the corridor to measure the reversible lanes’ performance, and a data-driven approach is selected to find the best time to start the operation. Subsequently, real-time and offline instruction for the operation of the reversible lanes is provided through employing deep learning and statistical techniques. In addition, an offline timetable is also provided through an optimization technique. Eventually, integration of the data-driven and optimization techniques results in the best practice operation of the reversible lanes.

The function of the 30-kilodalton movement protein (MP) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is to facilitate cell-to-cell movement of viral progeny in infected plants. Our earlier findings have indicated that this protein has a direct effect on plasmodesmal function. In addition, these studies demonstrated that constitutive expression of the TMV MP gene (under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter) in transgenic tobacco plants significantly affects carbon metabolism in source leaves and alters the biomass distribution between the various plant organs. The long-term goal of the proposed research was to better understand the factors controlling carbon translocation in plants. The specific objectives were: A) To introduce into tobacco and potato plants a virally-encoded (TMV-MP) gene that affects plasmodesmal functioning and photosynthate partitioning under tissue-specific promoters. B) To introduce into tobacco and potato plants the TMV-MP gene under the control of promoters which are tightly repressed by the Tn10-encoded Tet repressor, to enable the expression of the protein by external application of tetracycline. C) To explore the mechanism by which the TMV-MP interacts with the endogenous control o~ carbon allocation. Data obtained in our previous project together with the results of this current study established that the TMV-MP has pleiotropic effects when expressed in transgenic tobacco plants. In addition to its ability to increase the plasmodesmal size exclusion limit, it alters carbohydrate metabolism in source leaves and dry matter partitioning between the various plant organs, Expression of the TMV-MP in various tissues of transgenic potato plants indicated that sugars and starch levels in source leaves are reduced below those of control plants when the TMV-MP is expressed in green tissue only. However, when the TMV-MP was expressed predominantly in PP and CC, sugar and starch levels were raised above those of control plants. Perhaps the most significant result obtained from experiments performed on transgenic potato plants was the discovery that the influence of the TMV-MP on carbohydrate allocation within source leaves was under developmental control and was exerted only during tuber development. The complexity of the mode by which the TMV-MP exerts its effect on the process of carbohydrate allocation was further demonstrated when transgenic tobacco plants were subjected to environmental stresses such as drought stress and nutrients deficiencies, Collectively, these studies indicated that the influence of the TMV-MP on carbon allocation L the result of protein-protein interaction within the source tissue. Based on these results, together with the findings that plasmodesmata potentiate the cell-to-cell trafficking of viral and endogenous proteins and nucleoproteins complexes, we developed the theme that at the whole plant level, the phloem serves as an information superhighway. Such a long-distance communication system may utilize a new class of signaling molecules (proteins and/or RNA) to co-ordinate photosynthesis and carbon/nitrogen metabolism in source leaves with the complex growth requirements of the plant under the prevailing environmental conditions. The discovery that expression of viral MP in plants can induce precise changes in carbon metabolism and photoassimilate allocation, now provide a conceptual foundation for future studies aimed at elucidating the communication network responsible for integrating photosynthetic productivity with resource allocation at the whole-plant level. Such information will surely provide an understanding of how plants coordinate the essential physiological functions performed by distantly-separated organs. Identification of the proteins involved in mediating and controlling cell-to-cell transport, especially at the companion cell-sieve element boundary, will provide an important first step towards achieving this goal.

Highly imperiled Oregon white oak ecosystems are a regional conservation priority of numerous organizations, including Oregon Metro, a regional government serving over one million people in the Portland area. Previously dominant systems in the Pacific Northwest, upland prairie and oak woodlands are now experiencing significant threat, with only 2% remaining in the Willamette Valley in small fragments (Hulse et al. 2002). These fragments are of high conservation value because of the rich biodiversity they support, including rare and endemic species, such as Delphinium leucophaeum (Oregon Department of Agriculture, 2020). Since 2010, Metro scientists and volunteers have collected phenology data on approximately 140 species of forbs and graminoids in regional oak prairie and woodlands. Phenology is the study of life-stage events in plants and animals, such as budbreak and senescence in flowering plants, and widely acknowledged as a sensitive indicator of environmental change (Parmesan 2007). Indeed, shifts in plant phenology have been observed over the last few decades as a result of climate change (Parmesan 2006). In oak systems, these changes have profound implications for plant community composition and diversity, as well as trophic interactions and general ecosystem function (Willis 2008). While the original intent of Metro’s phenology data-collection was to track long-term phenology trends, limitations in data collection methods have made such analysis difficult. Rather, these data are currently used to inform seasonal management decisions on Metro properties, such as when to collect seed for propagation and when to spray herbicide to control invasive species. Metro is now interested in fine-tuning their data-collection methods to better capture long-term phenology trends to guide future conservation strategies. Addressing the regional and global conservation issues of our time will require unprecedented collaboration. Phenology data collected on Metro properties is not only an important asset for Metro’s conservation plan, but holds potential to support broader research on a larger scale. As a leader in urban conservation, Metro is poised to make a meaningful scientific contribution by sharing phenology data with regional and national organizations. Data-sharing will benefit the common goal of conservation and create avenues for collaboration with other scientists and conservation practitioners (Rosemartin 2013). In order to support Metro’s ongoing conservation efforts in Oregon white oak systems, I have implemented a three-part master’s project. Part one of the project examines Metro’s previously collected phenology data, providing descriptive statistics and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the methods by which the data were collected. Part two makes recommendations for improving future phenology data-collection methods, and includes recommendations for datasharing with regional and national organizations. Part three is a collection of scientific vouchers documenting key plant species in varying phases of phenology for Metro’s teaching herbarium. The purpose of these vouchers is to provide a visual tool for Metro staff and volunteers who rely on plant identification to carry out aspects of their job in plant conservation. Each component of this project addresses specific aspects of Metro’s conservation program, from day-to-day management concerns to long-term scientific inquiry.

High Grain Protein Content (GPC) of wheat is important for improved nutritional value and industrial quality. However, selection for this trait is limited by our poor understanding of the genes involved in the accumulation of protein in the grain. A gene with a large effect on GPC was detected on the short arm of chromosome 6B in a Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides accession from Israel (DIC, hereafter). During the previous BARD project we constructed a half-million clones Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library of tetraploid wheat including the high GPC allele from DIC and mapped the GPC-B1 locus within a 0.3-cM interval. Our long-term goal is to provide a better understanding of the genes controlling grain protein content in wheat. The specific objectives of the current project were to: (1) complete the positional cloning of the GPC-B1 candidate gene; (2) characterize the allelic variation and (3) expression profile of the candidate gene; and (4) validate this gene by using a transgenic RNAi approach to reduce the GPC transcript levels. To achieve these goals we constructed a 245-kb physical map of the GPC-B1 region. Tetraploid and hexaploid wheat lines carrying this 245-kb DIC segment showed delayed senescence and increased GPC and grain micronutrients. The complete sequencing of this region revealed five genes. A high-resolution genetic map, based on approximately 9,000 gametes and new molecular markers enabled us to delimit the GPC-B1 locus to a 7.4-kb region. Complete linkage of the 7.4-kb region with earlier senescence and increase in GPC, Zn, and Fe concentrations in the grain suggested that GPC-B1 is a single gene with multiple pleiotropic effects. The annotation of this 7.4-kb region identified a single gene, encoding a NAC transcription factor, designated as NAM-B1. Allelic variation studies demonstrated that the ancestral wild wheat allele encodes a functional NAC transcription factor whereas modern wheat varieties carry a non-functional NAM-B1 allele. Quantitative PCR showed that transcript levels for the multiple NAMhomologues were low in flag leaves prior to anthesis, after which their levels increased significantly towards grain maturity. Reduction in RNA levels of the multiple NAMhomologues by RNA interference delayed senescence by over three weeks and reduced wheat grain protein, Zn, and Fe content by over 30%. In the transgenic RNAi plants, residual N, Zn and Fe in the dry leaves was significantly higher than in the control plants, confirming a more efficient nutrient remobilization in the presence of higher levels of GPC. The multiple pleiotropic effects of NAM genes suggest a central role for these genes as transcriptional regulators of multiple processes during leaf senescence, including nutrient remobilization to the developing grain. The cloning of GPC-B1 provides a direct link between the regulation of senescence and nutrient remobilization and an entry point to characterize the genes regulating these two processes. This may contribute to their more efficient manipulation in crops and translate into food with enhanced nutritional value. The characterization of the GPC-B1 gene will have a significant impact on wheat production in many regions of the world and will open the door for the identification of additional genes involved in the accumulation of protein in the grain.