bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fixing Solutions: Fascist Temporalities as Remediesfor Liquid Modernity
Authors: Griffin Roger
Published: January 2015

Fixing Solutions: Fascist Temporalities as Remedies for Liquid Modernity

This article explores the peculiar temporalities of fascism that emanate from the myth of the eternity of the nation and race that is perpetuated through superhuman, self-sacrificial efforts on their behalf within historical time. It focuses on the role played by modernity as an agent of the «liquefaction» of reality into a perpetual open-ended flux (experienced as decadence and decline), and the attempt by Fascism and Nazism to fix the contours of historical time and restore its shape and purpose through the power of totalitarian organization, political religion, and the manipulation of palingenetic myth. Members of the fascists’ organic «national community » were thus exhorted both overtly and subliminally to find a personal transcendent meaning and sense of heroic mission through their active participation in the process of national rebirth. The fascist rebellion against the disenchanted temporality of modernity is located within modernist attempts, not only in every sphere of cultural production, but also in experimental forms of socio-political activism and organization, to create a barrier against the rising flood of disenchantment, relativism, and nihilism arising from modernity.
The Imperial Moment in Fascist Cinema
Authors: Ben-Ghiat Ruth
Published: January 2015

The Imperial Moment in Fascist Cinema

This essay looks at how Italian feature and non-fiction cinema on imperial themes engaged with themes of temporality as it asserted Fascism's right to occupy Ethiopia (1936) and, during World War II, Greece as well. For the Fascists, cinema was a means of displaying the colonies as theatres of Italian modernity, rebuking rhetorics of Italian «backwardness». As I argue, the movies made between 1936 and 1943 reflect the belief of many film professionals and Fascist officials that the scale of the Ethiopian invasion, and the stories it generated, could not be adequately communicated by traditional means of representation; only the movie camera could adequately capture the dense and mobile Fascist present. I analyse Roberto Rossellini's 1942 aviation drama, Un pilota ritorna / A Pilot Returns, as the apex of this form of temporal and cinematographic thinking, but also as a film that presaged the undoing of Fascism's empire and its cult of Italian modernity.
A sounding rocket payload experiment on zero gravity fuel gauging using modal analysis
Authors: Crosby Kevin , Ireland Eric , Lubick Kevin , Mathe Steven , Metallo Steven , Werlink Rudy
Published: January 2015

For the past three years Carthage Space Sciences faculty and students have been developing Ex- perimental Modal Analysis (EMA) techniques for use in microgravity fuel gauging of spacecraft propellant tanks. Our experiments were initially conducted on parabolic flights in which periods of microgravity of 20 seconds can be obtained. Parabolic flights were necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique in a relevant environment, but the short period of microgravity available during each parabola is insufficient to probe the resolution of the technique for settled, non-sloshing propellant. Here we report the results of an experiment in which the EMA technique is implemented in a sounding rocket payload developed through participation in the RockSat-C program of the Colorado and Virginia Space Grant Consortia.Â
Physics: A studentâ€™s guide through the great texts
Authors: Kuehn Kerry
Published: January 2015

During the past decade, I have developed and taught a unique and challenging four-semester introductory physics curriculum at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) based on the careful reading, analysis and discussion of selections from foundational texts in physics and astronomy. This curriculum is designed to en- courage a critical and circumspect approach to natural science, while also devel- oping a suitable foundation for advanced coursework in physics. It is scheduled to be published by Springer as a textbook/anthology around 2014.Â
New Capabilities and Discovered Interconnectivities for a Curriculum-Integrated Multicourse Model Rocketry Project
Authors: Traum Matthew J , Prantil Vincent C. , Farrow William C. , Weiss Hope L.
Published: January 2015

To provide students a more coherent and cohesive view of the mechanical engineering curriculum, we created and are delivering a multicourse curriculum-integrated engineering project that permeates and unifies five required classes within our undergraduate curriculum: 1) Freshman Design, 2) Dynamics, 3) Numerical Analysis, 4) Fluid Mechanics, and 5) Thermodynamics. Students enrolled in these Rocket Project (RP) classes design, build, flight test, and analyze model rockets through hands-on exercises. These activities challenge students to work on different aspects of the same rocket project across all four years of their degree program. Critical to the seamless collection and presentation of data and experimental/numerical techniques across five courses was the development of new laboratory, field, and simulation capabilities driven by our goal: to measure all unknown variables needed for rocket performance analysis and modeling in-house without reliance on external data. These needed capabilities included: 1) collecting acceleration and barometric altitude data from a model rocket flight, 2) simulating via computer rocket trajectories for comparison to actual measured altitudes, 3) evaluating rocket performance by numerical methods to validate modeling assumptions, 4) determining rocket drag coefficient as a function of Reynolds number for velocities relevant to a launch, and 5) measuring rocket motor thrust as a function of time as well as the energy density of the fuel used. As these capabilities were developed, additional course interconnectivities and opportunities for data sharing were discovered and exploited to further enrich the course experience for students.Â
Dynamic Dynamometry to Characterize Disk Turbines for Space-Based Power
Authors: Yang Zhiyuan , Weiss Hope L. , Traum Matthew J.
Published: January 2015

Rankine cycles will someday be the power plants of choice for manned space missions, providing excellent thermodynamic efficiency and high power density. The Rankine cycleâ€™s hallmark is a working fluid that changes phase between liquid and vapor. However, the working fluid must remain in the vapor phase as it passes through the turbine to avoid damaging this component. The need to tightly regulate the working fluid phase through the turbine imposes limits on the power produced and the overall efficiency of the cycle, especially given limitations on power plant volume and mass necessarily imposed by housing it in an interplanetary spacecraft. These limitations could be relaxed if a turbine were incorporated into the Rankine power cycle that was robust and fully operational while processing two-phase flows. Disk turbines have the potential for continuous operation regardless of the thermodynamic quality of working fluid running through them. However, due to high rotational velocity and low torque output by disk turbines, their performance is difficult to evaluate using conventional techniques for aero-derived turbines. To assess disk turbines as candidates for space-based power generation, we describe a method to accurately measure and predict turbine mechanical power output using the rational inertia of the turbineâ€™s spinning components and friction in its bearings as the load. The turbineâ€™s time response to Dirac load inputs, as well as its no-load responses to compressed air input over a range of pressures, are measured. This technique, called dynamic dynamometry, produces turbine power-versus-angular-velocity curves, useful for quantitative performance analysis.Â
Soft X-Ray EPMA analyses of nanophase lunar Fe-Si compounds
Authors: Gopon Phil , Fournelle J. , Valley J. , Horn W. , Pinard P. , Sobol P. , Spicuzza M. , LLovet X.
Published: January 2015

Conventional electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) has an X-ray analytical spatial resolution on the order of 1-4 Î¼m width/depth. Many of the naturally occurring Fe-Si compounds analyzed in this study are smaller than 1 Î¼m in size, requiring the use of lower accelerating potentials and non-standard X-ray lines for analysis. The problems with the use of low energy X-ray lines (soft X-rays) of iron for quantitative analyses are discussed and a review is given of the alternative X- ray lines that may be used for iron at or below 5 keV (i.e., accelerating voltage that allows analysis of areas of interest smaller than 1 Î¼m). Problems include the increased sensitivity to surface effects for soft X-rays, peak shifts (induced by chemical bonding, differential self- absorption, and/or buildup of carbon contamination), uncertainties in the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) for X-ray lines near absorption edges, and issues with spectral resolution and count rates from the available Bragg diffractors. In addition to the results from the traditionally used Fe LÎ± line, alternative approaches, utilizing Fe LÎ², and Fe Ll-Î· lines, are discussed.Â
Coacervates as Prebiotic Reactors
Authors: Kolb Vera
Published: January 2015

In this work we summarize the important findings about coacervates as prebiotic reactors. We have found out that it is possible to run a chemical reaction in a coacervate, which fulfills the early predictions by Oparin that coacervates may have been the original prebiotic reactors. We have prepared two types of coacervates and have found that Passerini reaction in water occurs in both of them.Â
Spaceflight Academy for CESA District #7
Authors: Staats Bradley
Published: January 2015

Spaceflight Academy for Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) District #7 was a teacher workshop1 that focused on the history, math, science, and technology of spaceflight. This workshop offered a unique approach to teaching by incorporating â€œreal worldâ€ applications into the classroom.Â
EAA FlightLink 2G
Authors: Skiles Jeffrey
Published: January 2015

Founded over half a century ago in Milwaukee, WI, by a pro-active group of aviators interested in building their own aircraft, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has subsequently expanded its mission to include the history, preservation, display, and ongoing research on antiques, classics, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, ultralights, helicopters, and contemporary manufactured aircraft. Hundreds of thousands of aircraft and aerospace enthusiasts gather each summer for EAAâ€™s AirVenture Oshkosh, the worldâ€™s largest aviation event. Each year, AirVenture re-creates and reinforces its founding atmosphere of challenge, excitement and achievement through educational workshops that promote personal initiative and accomplishment, the gathering of hundreds of exhibitors who share state-of-the-art technology related to the science of flight, and the daily airshow that celebrates the attraction, beauty, and skill of flight past, present and future. Ongoing EAA programs and initiatives available to amateurs and professionals alike include the EAA AirVenture Museum, the Young Eagles, SportAir Workshops, Timeless Voices, the Air Academy, and, since 2005, Women Soar. The Experimental Aircraft Associationâ€™s programs serve all demographics from school-age children through adults, with an organizational goal of reaching out to those populations under- represented in aviation, including women and minorities.Â
A Novel Technique for Fabricating Metalized Objects with Difficult Geometries
Authors: Powers Mitchell
Published: January 2015

In the course of fabricating corrugated horn antennae a technique was developed to avoid certain geometric difficulties. Stereolithograpy, a form of 3D printing, had been employed to create a lightweight, cheap, plastic horn. However, it was found that it was difficult to plate metal into the corrugations of the plastic horn. To work around this, a technique was developed where in the corrugated horn would be produced by assembling a number of easy to plate, interlocking rings. The rings would be plated separately, assembled, and electroplated with an exoskeleton. The general technique could readily be applied to a large number of similarly difficult scenarios.Â
Testing General Relativity with Pulsar Timing Arrays
Authors: Chamberlin Sydney , Siemens Xavier
Published: January 2015

Pulsar timing arrays are a promising tool for probing the universe through gravitational radiation. A variety of astrophysical and cosmological sources are expected to contribute to a stochastic background of gravitational waves (GWs) in the pulsar timing array (PTA) frequency band. Direct detection of GWs will provide a new mechanism to test General Relativity and requires the development of robust statistical detection strategies. Here, we investigate the overlap reduction function, a term present in the optimal detection statistic, for GWs in various metric theories of gravity. We show that PTA sensitivity increases for non-transverse gravitational waves when pulsar pairs have small angular separations in the sky.Â
X-Ray and Radio Emissions of AWM and MKW Clusters
Authors: Ramuta Michael
Published: January 2015

A grasp of the life-cycles of large-scale structures is critical to understanding the Universe. This can be accomplished through the study of poor clusters-- that is, younger clusters that are likely evolving to another state. The selected clusters are significant in that they are poor but also possess a type-cD galaxy. This brighter central galaxy suggests that these clusters may be dynamically evolved and are potential candidates for fossil groups. In order to more fully understand the structure and behavior of poor galaxy clusters, 12 clusters were selected and analyzed. Using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Chandra X-Ray Archive, and the VLA FIRST Survey, we present x-ray profiles and radio observations of these 12 galaxy clusters.Â
Towards Billion-Body Dynamics Simulation of Granular Material
Authors: Shotwell Rebecca , Negrut Dan
Published: January 2015

Advances are being made in the simulation of granular material, such that billion- body simulations are, perhaps, feasible using a combination of existing hardware and new modeling software technology. This capability is predicted to lead to a better understanding of granular materials, contributing to many areas of research. However, these capabilities are only useful if they are shown to agree well with reality. Beginning at a simple level, a study was conducted to compare the simulation of primitive joints in the Chrono::Engine simulation package with the MSC/ADAMS commercial software package. This simple effort provides a measure for the accuracy with which the software models the interaction of a joint and one or two bodies. This allows more complex analyses to be carried out with knowledge of the softwareâ€™s accuracy at this level.Â
Teaching Special Relativity: Developing a Software Aid for Spacetime Diagrams
Authors: Wolfmeyer Randy
Published: January 2015

Special Relativity is an important subject for the space sciences, but is often difficult for students to understand. Spacetime diagrams provide a graphical tool to aid in the conceptual understanding of relativity. The SpaceTime applet is designed to aid students in drawing spacetime diagrams and setting up diagrams for specific problems. A lab activity is also developed for use with the applet in studying spacetime diagrams.Â
UWL Physics Rocket Team: Final Report
Authors: Krueger Joseph , Prudhom Andrew , Allenby Richard , Nehls John
Published: January 2015

The goal of this year's collegiate rocket competition was to design and successfully launch a one-stage, high-powered rocket that, during its ascent, would transmit live video from a downward looking camera to a ground based receiver. In order to be considered a successful launch, the rocket was to attain an altitude near 3000 feet, electronically deploy a recovery parachute attached to all parts of the rocket, succeed in transmitting live video throughout the ascent, and safely land in a flyable condition. To achieve these requirements, the UWL Physics Rocket Team used OpenRocket to sketch a design that best fit the specifications of the competition. After it was discovered that programs such as OpenRocket are capable of doing the brunt of the theoretical work, it was decided that the majority of the essential components of our rocket would be hand built to increase the feeling of personal accomplishment. The design of our rocket utilizes a dual deployment recovery system, with the bottom section housing a custom made motor mount, the middle section housing the electronics for recording flight data, and the top-most section housing the equipment for the recording and transmitting of live video.Â
Team Jarts Rocket Design
Authors: Folz Alex , Foster Brett , Logisz Eric , Schulz Cameron
Published: January 2015

The objective of the 2012 Wisconsin Space Grand Consortium collegiate rocket competition was to construct a rocket capable of live video feed through the thrust phase while flying to an exact altitude of 3,000 feet. The airframe of the rocket was designed utilizing a simplistic, low weight design to provide a properly balanced rocket. The main chute was designed for two separate scenarios of deployment; the first scenario involves a remote controlled manual deployment, and the other is activated by an automatic elevation trigger, which will serve as a failsafe to ensure the rocket makes a safe landing. A numerical simulation, developed in MATLAB, was used to predict the performance of the rocket. The maximum predicted acceleration calculated is 506 ð’‡ð’•/ð’”ðŸ, and the maximum predicted altitude calculated is 3480.6 ð’‡ð’†ð’†ð’•. Further analysis of the rocket design and discrepancies are attached below.Â
Rocket Science for Educators; K-12 Techniques for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics
Authors: Treichel Todd H.
Published: January 2015

The Wisconsin AIAA chapter has leveraged the talent of its members to provide a variety of outreach opportunities for precollege aged students. Hands-on demonstrations, visual aids, and real-life space flight examples provide a foundation for bringing pre-college aged students face-to-face with space-related science, designed hardware, technology, and potential benefits; increased interest in aerospace and space related fields that lead to study at the university level followed by career. The Rocket Science for Educators program consists of a workshop used to assist schools in implementing rocket science into respective math or science curriculums. Participating educators attend a weekend workshop and receive a set of rocket science materials that they may take back to their respective schools. This workshop is taught by aerospace professionals where they provide a unique opportunity for teachers to provide meaningful activities in their classrooms and improve student performance in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Â
Cancellation of Space-Based Interference in Radio Telescopes
Authors: Nigra Lou
Published: January 2015

A concept is presented that was developed at the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, for suppression of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals in the 305 m dish radio receiver path prior to back-end processing. The subsystem requires no auxiliary antenna and is intended for easy integration with virtually any radio telescope system. The design focuses on the GPS L3 signal at 1381.05 MHz which, during periodic tests, interferes with observations of objects in an important range of redshifts. The signal dynamically change modulation modes and our scheme has demonstrated, through simulations using actual telescope data, the ability to acquire and track the signal as well as detect mode changes in order to to apply cancellation or blanking, as appropriate. A follow-up is planned to develop a prototype to deploy and evaluate at NAIC.Â
Extracting Equation of State Parameters from Black Hole-Neutron Star Mergers
Authors: Lackey Benjamin D. , Kyutoku Koutarou , Shibata Masaru , Brady Patrick R. , Friedman John L.
Published: January 2015

The late inspiral, merger, and ringdown of a black hole-neutron star (BHNS) system can provide informa- tion about the neutron-star equation of state (EOS). Candidate EOSs can be approximated by a parametrized piecewise-polytropic EOS, and we report results from a large set of BHNS inspiral simulations that systemati- cally vary two parameters. To within the accuracy of the simulations, we find that a single physical parameter Î›, describing its deformability, can be extracted from the late inspiral, merger, and ringdown waveform. This parameter is related to the radius, mass, and l = 2 Love number, k2, of the neutron star by Î› = 2k2R5/3M5 , NS and it is the same parameter that determines the departure from point-particle dynamics during the early inspi- ral. Using various configurations of a single Advanced LIGO detector, we find that Î›1/5 or equivalently R can be extracted to 10â€“40% accuracy from single events for mass ratios of Q = 2 and 3 at a distance of 100 Mpc, while with the proposed Einstein Telescope, EOS parameters can be extracted to accuracy an order of magnitude better.Â
Identification of Crystallized Ice on Kuiper Belt Objects
Authors: Hartwick Victoria
Published: January 2015

The processes responsible for the presence and preservation of crystallized ice on Kuiper Belt Objects are presently unknown. However, a correlation between KBO radial size and its presence is potentially illuminative of dynamical and inter-object interactions throughout the history of the solar system. By analysis of three filter NIR observations of four Kuiper Belt Objects in combination with later observations, we hope to construct rough NIR spectra that indicate the presence or non-presence of crystallized ice on an object and together with other spectra confirm any existing correlations. My objective for the summer is to proceed with data reduction and analysis of my October observations of four Kuiper Belt Objects. Together with new observations in July, I can then construct up to 12 rough spectra and identify the presence of crystallized ice on objects of varying radii. A correlation between radial size and presence of crystallized ice will provide important information about the feasibility of current theorized processes for its creation and preservation.Â
Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720
Authors: Tennyson Elizabeth M. , Sallmen Shauna , Korpela Eric
Published: January 2015

One of the many processes that occur in our Milky Way Galaxy is the in- teraction of Neutral Hydrogen (H I) shells with the Interstellar Medium (ISM). H I shells are formed when material from stellar winds and supernova explosions expands outward and mixes with the ISM. Without this phenomenon the heavy elements made in stars would not be recycled and reused for future star and planet systems. The goal of this project is to better understand how interstellar shells evolve. To acquire a better grasp of a shellâ€™s characteristics and develop- ment, we compared images for 55 shells that were discovered in the Search for Extraterrestrial Neutral Hydrogen (SETHi) radio database. The SETHi images show cold, neutral gas, the H-Alpha Composite Survey images show warm, ion- ized gas, the IRIS (infrared) images show warm dust, and the RASS (X-ray) images reveal hot gas. The initial comparison identified nine potentially interest- ing shells. Of these, four are most suitable for detailed follow-up study, based on information available from their kinematic distances. We present a catalog of the shells we classified, including details of those that are likely targets. Follow-up detailed multi-wavelength comparisons can give us estimates on a shellsâ€™s age and evolutionary status.Â
lectric Capacitance Volumetric Tomography ECVT for Fuel Gauging Under Zero Gravity
Authors: Butler Benjamin
Published: January 2015

To better allow for measurement of liquids, such as propellant, in microgravity, the University of Wisconsin â€“ Madison ZeroG Team conducted an experiment using electric capacitance and volumetric tomography. This procedure allowed for 3D computer imaging of the internal contents of a reservoir to determine the volume of substance inside. For this experiment, polypropylene spheres were used to eliminate the hazards of having fuel inside the cabin of the aircraft. Full analysis of the flight procedures can be seen below.Â
In-Situ Resource Utilization: Investigation of Melted Lunar Regolith Simulant JSC-1A
Authors: Kallerud Matthew , Nguyen Brian , Paladin Timothy , Wilson Anthony
Published: January 2015

This study focused on the importance of in-situ resource utilization in the pursuit of space exploration. Experimentation focused on lunar regolith simulant JSC-1A, of which the mechanical properties of melted JSC-1A were to be explored. Specific properties that were tested included compression strength, hardness, density, magnetic properties, and the capability to drill and tap melted regolith. Results showed the compressive strength being greater than that of granite, higher densities in melted regolith versus settled JSC-1A powder, as well as inconclusive hardness and magnetic property testing.Â
Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanolaminate Films
Authors: Oleson B.J. , Bilke L. M. , Krueger J. S. , King S. T.
Published: January 2015

This project sought to increases the understanding of fundamental properties of the transparent conducting oxide materials needed to improve solar energy device efficiency. Specifically, this study focused on the development of Cu:ZnO nanolamintate materials where Cu and ZnO form alternating layers on the nanomerter scale. Initial results show no intermixing of materials, and suggest that these nanolaminates may be employed as infrared mirrors.Â
The Effect of Magnetization Defects on DW Motion in Ferromagnetic Nanowires
Authors: Kimminau Kyle , Kunz Andrew
Published: January 2015

The propagation of domain walls in ferromagnetic nanowires offers the possibility of ultrafast logic devices and high density data storage. The understanding and control of domain wall motion has become more desirable recently as these devices come closer to realization. Domain walls can only be propagated by small magnetic fields or their movement becomes hindered by the precessional motion of the magnetic dipoles, also called the Walker breakdown effect1. Through the use of Landau-Lifshitz Gilbert Simulation, we report a method of eliminating the Walker breakdown. This investigation also offers some insight into how these proposed devices might perform in the high energy radiation of space for extended periods of time.Â
Too wet for frogs: changes in a tropical leaf litter community coincide with La Niña
Authors: Ryan Mason J. , Scott Norman J. , Cook Joseph A. , Willink Beatriz , Chaves Gerardo , Bolaños Federico , García-Rodríguez Adrián , Latella Ian M. , Koerner Sally E.
Published: January 2015

Extreme climatic events such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation profoundly affect many plants and animals, including amphibians, which are strongly negatively affected by drought conditions. How amphibians respond to exceptionally high precipitation as observed in La Niña events, however, remains unclear. We document the correlation between the exceedingly wet 2010–2012 La Niña and community‐level changes in a leaf litter frog assemblage in Costa Rica. Relative abundances of species shifted, diversity and plot occupancy decreased, and community composition became homogenized with the onset of La Niña. These aspects remained altered for over 20 months but rebounded to pre‐La Niña levels after approximately 12 months. We hypothesize that complex ecological cascades associated with excess moisture caused short‐term declines in abundances of species and associated changes in community structure. If additional stressors such as disease or habitat loss are not co‐occurring, frog communities can rapidly recover to pre‐disturbance levels following severe climatic events.
Numerical simulation of water free-surface flows through a front-tracking lattice Boltzmann approach
Authors: Di Francesco Silvia , Biscarini Chiara , Manciola Piergiorgio
Published: January 2015

Three-dimensional (3D) hydraulic modelling of rapidly varying surface flows is a challenging task for practical engineering applications. One example is represented by the fast-moving fronts originating from dam breaches that proceed downstream through artificial channels. In this work, a fully 3D lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is tested. The numerical model is a front-tracking variant of the LBM, being the free surface tracked through the liquid volume fraction. Model performances are evaluated simulating the effect of dam-break flows on synthetic settings schematically represented by an artificial domain and comparing results with analytical data and experimental laboratory measurements. Obtained results are promising for the use of LBM for practical engineering applications.
Modeling of daily runoff from a small agricultural watershed using artificial neural network with resampling techniques
Authors: Singh Gurjeet , Panda Rabindra K. , Lamers Marc
Published: January 2015

The reported study was undertaken in a small agricultural watershed, namely, Kapgari in Eastern India having a drainage area of 973 ha. The watershed was subdivided into three sub-watersheds on the basis of drainage network and land topography. An attempt was made to relate the continuously monitored runoff data from the sub-watersheds and the whole-watershed with the rainfall and temperature data using the artificial neural network (ANN) technique. The reported study also evaluated the bias in the prediction of daily runoff with shorter length of training data set using different resampling techniques with the ANN modeling. A 10-fold cross-validation (CV) technique was used to find the optimum number of hidden neurons in the hidden layer and to avoid neural network over-fitting during the training process for shorter length of data. The results illustrated that the ANN models developed with shorter length of training data set avoid neural network over-fitting during the training process, using a 10-fold CV method. Moreover, the biasness was investigated using the bootstrap resampling technique based ANN (BANN) for short length of training data set. In comparison with the 10-fold CV technique, the BANN is more efficient in solving the problems of the over-fitting and under-fitting during training of models for shorter length of data set.
Custom functionality and integrative approaches for hydrological modelling tools for water resources planning and management
Authors: Kim Shaun S. H. , Dutta Dushmanta , Egan Chas A. , Dugge Juernjakob , Singh Ramneek , Davis Geoff P. , Rahman Joel M.
Published: January 2015

This paper outlines the application and usefulness of a software platform that enables hydrologists to develop custom functionality in a new hydrological modelling tool, eWater Source, designed for water resources planning and management. The flexible architecture of the software allows incorporation of third-party components as plug-ins to add new capabilities that are not built in. Plug-ins can be developed to adapt the software to suit the needs of hydrologists with modest software development knowledge. This can result in an improvement in workflow and efficiencies. In addition, modellers can use plug-ins to integrate hydrological process and management models that may not be able to be built in the normal tool. The paper introduces the plug-ins functionality of the modelling tool, its design and applications with three example plug-ins to demonstrate. These are: (1) a data processing plug-in to upscale urban environment models; (2) a management rule plug-in to calculate loss allowances for the Pioneer Valley; and (3) a model plug-in to integrate into a river system model. For planning purposes, the use of plug-ins is thought to be critical for modelling management rules for various jurisdictions since these can vary significantly between jurisdictions and change over time.
Water quality monitoring with online change-point detection methods
Authors: Ba Amadou , McKenna Sean A.
Published: January 2015

We develop an approach for water quality time series monitoring and contamination event detection. The approach combines affine projection algorithms and an autoregressive (AR) model to predict water quality time series. Then, we apply online change-point detection methods to the estimated residuals to determine the presence, or not, of contamination events. Particularly, we compare the performance of four change-point detection methods, namely, sequential probability ratio test (SPRT), cumulative sum (CUSUM), binomial event discriminator (BED), and online Bayesian change-point detection (OBCPD), by using residuals obtained from four water quality time series, chlorine, conductivity, total organic carbon, and turbidity. Our fundamental criterion for the performance evaluation of the four change-point detection methods is given by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve which is characterized by the true positive rate as a function of the false positive rate. We highlight with detailed experiments that OBCPD provides the best performance for large contamination events, and we also provide insight on the choice of change-point detection algorithms to consider for designing efficient contamination detection schemes.
Input selection for long-lead precipitation prediction using large-scale climate variables: a case study
Authors: Ahmadi Azadeh , Han Dawei , Kakaei Lafdani Elham , Moridi Ali
Published: January 2015

In this study, a precipitation forecasting model is developed based on the sea level pressures (SLP), difference in sea level pressure and sea surface temperature data. For this purpose, the effective variables for precipitation estimation are determined using the Gamma test (GT) and correlation coefficient analysis in two wet and dry seasons. The best combination of selected variables is identified using entropy and GT. The performances of the alternative methods in input variables selection are compared. Then the support vector machine model is developed for dry and wet seasonal precipitations. The results are compared with the benchmark models including naïve, trend, multivariable regression, and support vector machine models. The results show the performance of the support vector machine in precipitation prediction is better than the benchmark models.
Efficient multi-objective optimization methods for computationally intensive urban water resources models
Authors: Mortazavi-Naeini Mohammad , Kuczera George , Cui Lijie
Published: January 2015

Multi-objective optimization methods require many thousands of objective function evaluations. For urban water resource problems such evaluations can be computationally very expensive. The question as to which optimization method is the best choice for a given function evaluations budget in urban water resource problems remains unexplored. The main objective of this paper is to address this question. The second objective is to develop a new optimization algorithm, efficient multi-objective ant colony optimization-I (EMOACO-I), which exploits the good performance of ant colony optimization enhanced using ideas borrowed from evolutionary optimization. Its performance was compared against three established methods (NSGA-II, SMPSO, εMOEA) using two case studies based on the urban water resource systems serving two major Australian cities. The case study problems involved two or three objectives and 10 or 13 decision variables affecting infrastructure investment and system operation. The results show that NSGA-II was the worst performing method. However, none of the remaining methods was unambiguously superior. For example, while EMOACO-I converged more rapidly, its diversity was comparable but not superior to the other methods. Greater differences in performance were found as the number of objectives and case study complexity increased. This suggests that pooling the results from a number of methods could help guard against the vagaries in performance of individual methods.
Reduced Expression of the MDA5 Gene IFIH1 Prevents Autoimmune Diabetes
Authors: Lincez Pamela J. , Shanina Iryna , Horwitz Marc S.
Published: January 2015

Although it is widely accepted that type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the result of the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas, little is known about the events leading to islet autoimmunity. Epidemiological and genetic data have associated virus infections and antiviral type I interferon (IFN-I) response genes with T1D. Genetic variants in the T1D risk locus interferon induced with helicase C domain 1 (IFIH1) have been identified by genome-wide association studies to confer resistance to T1D and result in the reduction in expression of the intracellular RNA virus sensor known as melanoma differentiation–associated protein 5 (MDA5). Here, we translate the reduction in IFIH1 gene expression that results in protection from T1D. Our functional studies demonstrate that mice heterozygous at the Ifih1 gene express less than half the level of MDA5 protein, which leads to a unique antiviral IFN-I signature and adaptive response after virus infection that protects from T1D. IFIH1 heterozygous mice have a regulatory rather than effector T-cell response at the site of autoimmunity, supporting IFIH1 expression as an essential regulator of the diabetogenic T-cell response and providing a potential mechanism for patients carrying IFIH1 protective polymorphisms.
Diazoxide Improves Hormonal Counterregulatory Responses to Acute Hypoglycemia in Long-standing Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: George Priya S. , Tavendale Roger , Palmer Colin N.A. , McCrimmon Rory J.
Published: January 2015

Individuals with long-standing type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at increased risk of severe hypoglycemia secondary to impairments in normal glucose counterregulatory responses (CRRs). Strategies to prevent hypoglycemia are often ineffective, highlighting the need for novel therapies. ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels within the hypothalamus are thought to be integral to hypoglycemia detection and initiation of CRRs; however, to date this has not been confirmed in human subjects. In this study, we examined whether the KATP channel-activator diazoxide was able to amplify the CRR to hypoglycemia in T1D subjects with long-duration diabetes. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial using a stepped hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia clamp was performed in 12 T1D subjects with prior ingestion of diazoxide (7 mg/kg) or placebo. Diazoxide resulted in a 37% increase in plasma levels of epinephrine and a 44% increase in plasma norepinephrine during hypoglycemia compared with placebo. In addition, a subgroup analysis revealed that the response to oral diazoxide was blunted in participants with E23K polymorphism in the KATP channel. This study has therefore shown for the first time the potential utility of KATP channel activators to improve CRRs to hypoglycemia in individuals with T1D and, moreover, that it may be possible to stratify therapeutic approaches by genotype.
Tight Glycemic Control and Use of Hypoglycemic Medications in Older Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes and Comorbid Dementia
Authors: Thorpe Carolyn T. , Gellad Walid F. , Good Chester B. , Zhang Sijian , Zhao Xinhua , Mor Maria , Fine Michael J.
Published: January 2015

OBJECTIVE

Older adults with diabetes and dementia are at increased risk for hypoglycemia and other adverse events associated with tight glycemic control and are unlikely to experience long-term benefits. We examined risk factors for tight glycemic control in this population and use of medications associated with a high risk of hypoglycemia in the subset with tight control.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study of national Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative/clinical data and Medicare claims for fiscal years (FYs) 2008–2009 included 15,880 veterans aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes and dementia and prescribed antidiabetic medication. Multivariable regression analyses were used to identify sociodemographic and clinical predictors of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) control (tight, moderate, poor, or not monitored) and, in patients with tight control, subsequent use of medication associated with a high risk of hypoglycemia (sulfonylureas, insulin).

RESULTS

Fifty-two percent of patients had tight glycemic control (HbA1c <7% [53 mmol/mol]). Specific comorbidities, older age, and recent weight loss were associated with greater odds of tight versus moderate control, whereas Hispanic ethnicity and obesity were associated with lower odds of tight control. Among tightly controlled patients, 75% used sulfonylureas and/or insulin, with higher odds in patients who were male, black, or aged ≥75 years; had a hospital or nursing home stay in FY2008; or had congestive heart failure, renal failure, or peripheral vascular disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Many older veterans with diabetes and dementia are at high risk for hypoglycemia associated with intense diabetes treatment and may be candidates for deintensification or alteration of diabetes medications.
Lipoprotein Particles and Incident Type 2 Diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Mackey Rachel H. , Mora Samia , Bertoni Alain G. , Wassel Christina L. , Carnethon Mercedes R. , Sibley Christopher T. , Goff David C.
Published: January 2015

OBJECTIVE

In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), we evaluated associations of baseline levels of a lipoprotein-based insulin resistance (IR) index (LP-IR), IR-related lipoprotein particles, mean particle sizes, and lipids, with incident type 2 diabetes, independent of confounders, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Among 5,314 adults aged 45–84 years without baseline diabetes or cardiovascular disease, 656 cases of diabetes were identified during a mean follow-up of 7.7 years. Lipoprotein particle concentrations, size, and LP-IR were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of stored baseline plasma. Potential effect modification, by race/ethnicity, sex, baseline use of lipid-lowering medications or hormone therapy, or glucose strata (<90, 90–99, and ≥100 mg/dL), was also evaluated.

RESULTS

Higher levels of LP-IR, large VLDL particles (VLDL-P), small LDL particles, triglycerides (TG), and TG–to–HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and lower levels of large HDL particles, smaller HDL and LDL size, and larger VLDL size were significantly associated with incident diabetes adjusted for confounders and glucose or insulin. These also were similar by race/ethnicity, sex, and treatment group. Associations were similar for LP-IR, large VLDL-P, mean VLDL size, TG, and TG–to–HDL-C ratio; they persisted for LP-IR, large VLDL-P, or mean VLDL size adjusted for HOMA-IR or TG–to–HDL-C ratio and glucose but not for the TG–to–HDL-C ratio adjusted for LP-IR or for HOMA-IR or insulin if adjusted for LP-IR and glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

Among ethnically diverse men and women, LP-IR, large VLDL-P, large VLDL size, TG, and TG–to–HDL-C ratio were associated with incident diabetes independent of established risk factors, glucose, insulin, or HOMA-IR, as well as the use of lipid-lowering medications or hormone therapy.
Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risk in Coronary Artery Disease Patients With and Without Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Karjalainen Jaana J. , Kiviniemi Antti M. , Hautala Arto J. , Piira Olli-Pekka , Lepojärvi E. Samuli , Perkiömäki Juha S. , Junttila M. Juhani , Huikuri Heikki V. , Tulppo Mikko P.
Published: January 2015

OBJECTIVE

Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and exercise training are essential parts of current guidelines for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the contributions of LTPA and exercise training to cardiovascular (CV) risk in CAD patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are not well established.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We examined the effects of LTPA (n = 539 and n = 507; with and without T2D, respectively) and 2-year controlled, home-based exercise training (n = 63 plus 64 control subjects with T2D and n = 72 plus 68 control subjects without T2D) on the CV risk profile and composite end point among CAD patients.

RESULTS

During the 2-year follow-up, patients with reduced LTPA at baseline had an increased risk of CV events (adjusted hazard ratio 2.3 [95% CI 1.1–5.1; P = 0.033], 2.1 [1.1–4.2; P = 0.027], and 2.0 [1.0–3.9; P = 0.044] for no LTPA, LTPA irregularly, and LTPA two to three times weekly, respectively) compared with those with LTPA more than three times weekly. Among patients who completed the 2-year exercise intervention, exercise training resulted in favorable changes in exercise capacity both in CAD patients with T2D (+0.2 ± 0.8 vs. −0.1 ± 0.8 MET, P = 0.030) and without T2D (+0.3 ± 0.7 vs. −0.1 ± 0.5 MET, P = 0.002) as compared with the control group but did not have any significant effects on major metabolic or autonomic nervous system risk factors in CAD patients with or without T2D.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an inverse association between habitual LTPA and short-term CV outcome, but controlled, home-based exercise training has only minor effects on the CV risk profile in CAD patients with T2D.
Clinical Considerations for Insulin Pharmacotherapy in Ambulatory Care, Part Two: Review of Primary Literature and an Evidence-Based Approach for Treatment
Authors: Thurston Maria Miller , Galdo John A. , Bourg Catherine A.
Published: January 2015

IN BRIEF This article reinforces the dosing guidance from the package inserts of available insulin products and supplemental information provided by the manufacturers of insulin products. It reviews and evaluates pertinent primary literature detailing algorithms for the initiation and titration of insulin therapy that have helped to shape current clinical practice guidelines. The article discusses the clinical applicability of the evidence on insulin pharmacotherapy and offers recommendations for initiation and titration of various insulin products for insulin-requiring people with type 2 diabetes in the ambulatory care setting.
Clinical Implications of Canagliflozin Treatment in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Valentine Virginia , Hinnen Deborah
Published: January 2015

IN BRIEF Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of antihyperglycemic agents that lower blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. SGLT2 inhibitors have an insulin-independent mechanism of action, acting to inhibit the reabsorption of glucose in the kidney, which leads to increases in urinary glucose excretion in individuals with elevated blood glucose levels. This article provides an overview of the role of the kidney in type 2 diabetes, describes the rationale for renal SGLT2 as a new target for glycemic control, and focuses on the clinical implications of incorporating the SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin into type 2 diabetes treatment regimens based on data from phase 3 studies.
Simple method for fabrication of microchannels in silicon carbide
Authors: Khuat Vanthanh , Si Jinhai , Chen Tao , Dao Vanluu , Hou Xun
Published: January 2015

By using 800-nm femtosecond laser irradiation and chemical selective etching with hydrofluoric acid, microchannels are fabricated in silicon carbide. The diameter of the microchannel is about 1.5 μm. The morphology of the channel is characterized by using scanning electronic microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The formation mechanism of silicon carbide channels is attributed to the formation of laser-induced structural change zones in silicon carbide and the reaction of the laser-induced structural change zones with hydrofluoric acid. In addition, the influences of the laser average power and scanning velocity on the position of the microchannel are discussed.