bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Submarine Officer of the Deck Training Using Virtual Environments: An Assessment of Training System Capabilities
Authors: Vincenzi Dennis A. , Hays Robert T. , Seamon Alton G. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTIn recent years, virtual reality (VR), often called virtual environments (VE), has received an enormous amount of attention among training developers. Training developers are beginning to recognize the potential of VR as a flexible and effective training medium. A prime candidate for examining the effectiveness of VR systems is the training of officer of the deck (OOD) ship handling for the surfaced submarine. The virtual environment for submarine OOD ship handling training (VESUB) project developed, demonstrated, and evaluated the training potential of a virtual reality‐based system for OOD training. This article documents the effectiveness of the training provided by the VESUB trainer during the training effectiveness evaluation (TEE) of the VESUB technology demonstration.Data were collected on 15 ship handling variables grouped into seven skill categories. The results clearly indicated that the VESUB system was extremely capable of providing training to new recruits who knew very little about submarine ship handling, as well as refresher training for the experienced, qualified OOD. Significant learning was demonstrated on 11 of 15 performance measures. The results of the TEE strongly indicate that VR technologies can provide effective training on ship handling skills across a wide variety of experience levels.
Knowledge Warfare in the 21ST Century: An Extension in Performance
Authors: Masakowski Yvonne R. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTAs we move into the 21st century, we are faced with a critical need to address the ways in which knowledge is generated and used to optimize system and human performance. Today, we are inundated with a plethora of information, emails, and ever‐changing software. There is a dynamic relationship among humans, computers, expert systems and intelligent agent software that shapes the way we live, conduct business and participate in war. It is imperative that we master the critical components of knowledge management that will enhance their decision‐making capacities and empower the warfighter.In the 21st century, knowledge management tools, intelligent agent architectures, robotics, and automated systems will facilitate expert performance necessary to fortify net‐centric warfare. One of the principal metrics of performance will be our ability to reduce uncertainty and provide the most accurate information to the decision‐maker at the right time. The importance of these goals becomes clear when considered within the context of images of the World Trade Center (WTC) crumbling to the ground. Now, we understand the cost of poor information in terms of life and freedom.This paper will provide an introduction to the importance of knowledge management and implications for future ship design.
Function Allocation: Policy, Practice, Procedures, & Process
Authors: Malone Thomas B. , Heasly Christopher C. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTAllocation of functions is known by human systems integration professionals as encompassing both a process and a product. As a process, function allocation refers to the sequence of steps involved in establishing the alternate roles, responsibilities, and requirements for humans and machines in a complex human‐machine system. As a product, function allocation refers to the end state of the application of the process, the optimal distribution of roles, responsibilities and tasks between humans and machines.When the system development objective is to downsize emerging systems as compared with existing systems, the focus of the allocation of function effort changes from an emphasis on optimizing human roles to minimizing human involvement in system functions. In addressing the issue of performing system functions with fewer humans as compared with existing systems, the function allocation strategy is not simply to assign functions to automated or manual performance on the basis of differential capabilities and capacities of the two, as exemplified in the Fitts’ List approach. Rather, the strategy is to automate functions to the extent needed to enable the required reduction in workload and manning, with attendant provisions for decision aiding, task simplification, and design in conformity with human engineering standards to ensure adequate levels of human performance and personnel safety.Another change in emphasis when allocating functions for a reduced manning system is the focus on interaction between human and machine. In the reduced manning environment humans and machines are not viewed as competing resources to which responsibilities are assigned on the basis of their unique and individual capabilities but rather as cooperative elements of a system interacting and collaborating in synergy to achieve the system objectives.
Reliability Assessment of Corroding Ship Hull Structure
Authors: Akpan Unyime O. , Koko T. S. , Ayyub B. , Dunbar T.E. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTAn approach for reliability assessment of the ultimate strength of a ship hull structure in the presence of corrosion is developed. Corrosion growth is modeled as a time dependent random function that decreases the thickness of ship hull structural members with time. The second order reliability method (SORM) is used to calculate instantaneous reliability of the primary hull structure. The methodology for computing the time dependent reliability of a corroding ship structure is developed. Sensitivity of the time dependent reliability of the structure to statistical and probabilistic description of the corrosion growth parameters is investigated. An example problem involving a corroding tanker structure is used for demonstration.
Risk Based Inspection Planning for Ship Structures Using a Decision Tree Method
Authors: Li Dianqing , Zhang Shengkun , Tang Wenyong 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTA theoretical framework of risk‐based inspection and repair was proposed for ship structures subjected to corrosion deterioration. A repair index was presented to consider reliability updating after repair. The reliability updating after inspection and repair was performed by using the Bayesian updating method. A decision tree was established for selecting the optimal inspection and repair strategy for ship structures. By comparing the expected costs associated with different inspection and repair strategies, the smallest expected cost associated with the inspection and repair strategy can be identified as the optimal one. Based on this, a method was proposed to determine the sensitivities of both optimal inspection and repair strategy. Furthermore, some formulae were derived to analyze the sensitivities. A numerical example was investigated to illustrate the process of selecting the optimal inspection and repair strategy. The results show that the decision tree method is very effective. Furthermore, different values of various costs have significant effects on the reliability and stability of decision results.
Comparison of Three Inner‐Variable Approaches to Establish an Accurate Method for Turbulent Boundary Layers
Authors: Das Debendra K. , Naganathan Surrandar , Kono Toshifumi , Kulkarni Devdatta 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTAn inner‐variable integral theory was derived for solving incompressible two‐dimensional turbulent boundary layers. This new derivation incorporated major improvements to the earlier inner‐variable approach of White (1974) and Das and White (1986) by including a better wake function and a superior pressure gradient‐wake correlation. Initially, the derivation from the first principle led to three nonlinear ordinary differential equations that must be solved simultaneously to yield important boundary layer parameters. Subsequently, to simplify the theory, it was systematically reduced in two steps: first to a two‐equation method, and next to a one‐equation method. Then comparisons were carried out among the three methods using well‐established experimental data from a wide range of flows. The two‐equation method gave the best overall performance and was selected as the standard method. Finally, it was tested against additional experiments, giving reliable predictions against eleven different experimental flows under diverse flow conditions.
A Knowledge‐Based Computational Design Tool for Determining Preliminary Stability Particulars of Naval Ships
Authors: Alkan A.D. , Gülez K. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe preliminary design stage of a ship constitutes an important base from which to develop the preliminary ship characteristics to be used as goals in the following stages of the ship design process. Thus, reliable and efficient design tools are required by ship designers to determine ship design particulars that can satisfy various performance measures of stability for safety requirements, as well as resistance, volume, and load capacity to set economic targets. In this study, a robust neural network (NN) structure is established and using principle design data from 22 naval ships (Bartholomew et al. 1992), a reliable design tool for ship designers for determining ship preliminary stability particulars and as well as load capacity is developed. In the NN structure the classical back‐propagation (CBA) (Rumelhart et al. 1986) and fast back‐propagation (FBA) (Karayiannis and Venetsanopoulas 1991, 1992, 1993) algorithms are employed.The user inputs a set of common ship hull form parameters, while the output from the NN consists of the transverse center of gravity above keel (KG), the transverse metacenter above keel (KM), and the transverse metacenter above center of buoyancy (BM). Further, the dead‐weight tonnage capacity (DWT) is also determined using the same NN structure. According to various tests of the NN structure it is demonstrated that the model is able to give highly sensitive outputs for naval vessels even using a more restricted input data set. Depending on the availability of the design data structure the proposed model can be reconstructed for other preliminary design objectives such as predicting the powering performance for different classes of ships.
Plasma Arc Waste Destruction System (PAWDS) A Novel Approach to Waste Elimination Aboard Ships
Authors: Kaldas Aïda , Picard Isabelle , Chronopoulos Christos , Chevalier Philippe , Carabin Pierre , Holcroft Gillian , Alexander Gary , Spezio Joseph , Mann Jim , Molintas Henry 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe Plasma Arc Waste Destruction System (PAWDS) uses plasma energy, with temperatures over 5,000oC, to rapidly and efficiently destroy combustible waste aboard ships. PAWDS has proven itself to be a viable alternative to traditional incinerators. » In September 2003, Carnival Cruise Lines were the first to install a PAWDS aboard their 2,056 passenger (plus 1,000 crew members) capacity, M/S Fantasy cruise ship, to treat ship waste including paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles, wood, and food. As of June 2004, it is being operated and maintained solely by Carnival Cruise Lines personnel and has been permitted to operate in port by the Bahamian port authorities. » The Navy's next generation aircraft carrier, CVN 21, will be equipped with two PAWDS to process all of the non‐food combustible solid waste generated with sufficient system redundancy. The US Navy has been jointly developing the PAWDS with PyroGenesis Inc. over the last 6 years. The development efforts in 2004 and 2005 coupled with lessons learned from operation aboard Carnival's cruise ship have resulted in the identification of additional process and design improvements. Source emission testing by an independent laboratory has also demonstrated that the PAWDS easily meets IMO MARPOL requirements for the destruction of solid waste.
Climate Change and the Future of Shipping and Ship Design
Authors: Breslin David A. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn 2001, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a series of alarming reports that outlined the likely consequences of climate change over the next 50 to 100 years. Subsequent to those reports, in early 2005, the Kyoto Protocol took effect, establishing modest targets for reducing emissions of global‐warming gases by certain countries. Those targets are widely considered to be inadequate to do the job. » In 2007, the IPCC will issue its next series of reports, and it is widely anticipated that those reports will paint a grim picture of the future, possibly setting off another round of calls to action and negotiations for tougher treaty requirements. » Whatever the immediate reaction to the 2007 IPCC reports, determined action by developed and developing nations alike appears inevitable. That determined action will affect every economic sector, including the shipping and shipbuilding industries. » So it's coming time for the leaders, owners, operators, technologists, designers, and manufacturers in the U.S. domestic shipping and shipbuilding industries to begin contemplating what actions they will take to address possible legal requirements associated with global climate change. » Previous papers on climate change by this author have focused on ship technologies (Breslin & Wang, 2004) as well as DoN acquisition strategies (Breslin, 2003). The purpose of this paper is to outline where we are and where we are likely to be going relative to treaties and domestic legislation associated with climate change, speculate on the likely implications relative to shipping and shipbuilding, and outline a rough path into the future.
Genetic variability and structure ofGomortega keule(Molina) Baillon (Gomortegaceae) relict populations: geographical and genetic fragmentation and its implications for conservation
Authors: García-Gonzáles Rolando , Carrasco Basilio , Peñailillo Patricio , Letelier Luis , Herrera Raúl , Lavandero Blas , Moya Mario , Caligari Peter D.S. 
Published: October 2008

Gomortega keule (Molina) Baillon is a rare Chilean species classified as endangered and currently under conservation. Currently, conservation of this species is carried out by private companies and government agencies, but is done so based more on pragmatic criteria than scientifically based strategies. In this context, information concerning the genetic variability of the species among the different populations over its entire distribution range is incomplete, making it difficult to coordinate management and conservation strategies. Here we report a study to evaluate the genetic variability and population structure of G. keule over its entire distribution in Chile. Twenty-five ISSR primers for 223 individuals from 11 geographical populations were tested to evaluate genetic variability. Results showed a high level of genetic diversity for the species. A high level of genetic differentiation among populations was found, while genetic structure of the geographic populations was also shown by using STRUCTURE 2.1 software. Despite the fact that this species has been highly affected by human intervention and habitat destruction, a high level of genetic diversity was present. A likely explanation for this is that it reflects the previous distribution of this long-lived species and the current lack of sexual regeneration. Genetic diversity data must be considered in the development of a management strategy for further developing the protected areas, for identifying isolated small populations for conservation, and using larger populations with higher genetic diversity as seed sources for ex situ propagation and replanting.
Dispute Settlement Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: Survey for 2007
Authors: Churchill Robin 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis is the fourth of a projected series of annual surveys reviewing dispute settlement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 2007 was the busiest year for dispute settlement in the law of the sea for some time. The main developments under Part XV of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea were the award of the arbitral tribunal in the Guyana/Suriname Case and two prompt-release-of-vessel judgments by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Outside the framework of the Convention, the International Court of Justice gave judgments in two maritime boundary cases—one on the merits (Nicaragua v. Honduras) and the other on jurisdiction (Nicaragua v. Colombia).
The European Community, the European Court of Justice and the Law of the Sea
Authors: Boelaert-Suominen Sonja 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe European Community has gradually increased its focus on marine and maritime affairs, starting with the Community's Fishery Policy in the 1970s and culminating recently in the 2007 Blue Book on an Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union. The Community's increased clout over marine and maritime matters has been reflected also in the case law of the European Court of Justice. From the outset the Court has given great impetus to the Community's efforts to assert its external competence in matters related to fisheries and conservation of biological resources of the sea. Even so, the Court has thus far only occasionally been confronted with public international law questions pertaining to the law of the sea. However, the few cases in which the Court has addressed such issues are worthy of note. For example, the Court has ruled on whether Member States should be allowed to rely on the international law of the sea in order to derogate from obligations under Community law; whether Member States should be allowed to prefer the dispute settlement provisions set out in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea over the Community's own dispute settlement system; and on whether private parties may invoke arguments derived from the customary or conventional international law of the sea to challenge the validity of Community legislation pertaining to marine and maritime matters. The resulting judgments of the European Court of Justice have often turned out to be landmark cases, although some of them have tended to divide academic opinion.
A highly sensitive, PCR-based method for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum clones in microtiter plates
Authors: Maher Steven P , Balu Bharath , Shoue Doug A , Weissenbach Matthew E , Adams John H 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
Cloning of parasites by limiting dilution is an essential and rate-limiting step in many aspects of malaria research including genomic and genetic manipulation studies. The standard Giemsa-stained blood smears to detect parasites is time-consuming, whereas the more sensitive parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay involves multiple steps and requires fresh reagents. A simple PCR-based method was therefore tested for parasite detection that can be adapted to high throughput studies.

Methods
Approximately 1 μL of packed erythrocytes from each well of a microtiter cloning plate was directly used as template DNA for a PCR reaction with primers for the parasite 18s rRNA gene. Positive wells containing parasites were identified after rapid separation of PCR products by gel electrophoresis.

Results
The PCR-based method can consistently detect a parasitaemia as low as 0.0005%, which is equivalent to 30 parasite genomes in a single well of a 96-well plate. Parasite clones were easily detected from cloning plates using this method and a comparison of PCR results with Giemsa-stained blood smears showed that PCR not only detected all the positive wells identified in smears, but also detected wells not identified otherwise, thereby confirming its sensitivity.

Conclusion
The PCR-based method reported here is a simple, sensitive and efficient method for detecting parasite clones in culture. This method requires very little manual labor and can be completely automated for high throughput studies. The method is sensitive enough to detect parasites a week before they can be seen in Giemsa smears and is highly effective in identifying slow growing parasite clones.
The perspectives of injection drug users regarding safer injecting education delivered through a supervised injecting facility
Authors: Fast Danya , Small Will , Wood Evan , Kerr Thomas 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
Unsafe injection practices are prevalent among injection drug users (IDU) and have resulted in numerous forms of drug-related harm including HIV/HCV transmission and other bacterial and viral infections. North America's first supervised injection facility (SIF) was established in Vancouver in order to address injection-related harms among IDU. This study sought to examine injection drug users' experiences receiving safer injecting education in the context of a SIF.

Methods
Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 50 individuals recruited from a cohort of SIF users known as the Scientific Evaluation of Supervised Injection (SEOSI) cohort. Audio recorded interviews elicited IDU perspectives regarding the provision of safer injecting education within the context of a SIF. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a thematic analysis was conducted.

Results
Participant narratives indicate that significant gaps in knowledge regarding safer injecting practices exist among local IDU, and that these knowledge deficits result in unsafe injecting practices and negative health outcomes. However, IDU perspectives reveal that the SIF allows clients to identify and address these gaps in knowledge through a number of mechanisms that are unique to this facility, including targeted educational messaging that occurs as a part of the drug use cycle and not outside of it, in situ demonstration of safer injecting techniques that takes place the moment a client is experiencing difficulties, and enhanced opportunities to seek help from 'expert' healthcare professionals. Importantly, study participants indicated that the overall environment of the SIF promotes the adoption of safer injecting practices over time, both within and outside of the facility.

Conclusion
We conclude that the SIF has been particularly effective in transmitting educational messages targeting unsafe and unhygienic injection practices to a population of active IDU. Consistent with previous work, results of this study indicate that SIFs represent a unique 'micro-environment' that can facilitate the reduction of numerous drug related harms.
Memory-enhancing treatments reverse the impairment of inhibitory avoidance retention in sepsis-surviving rats
Authors: Tuon Lisiane , Comim Clarissa M , Petronilho Fabrícia , Barichello Tatiana , Izquierdo Ivan , Quevedo João , Dal-Pizzol Felipe 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Introduction
Survivors from sepsis have presented with long-term cognitive impairment, including alterations in memory, attention, concentration, and global loss of cognitive function. Thus, we evaluated the effects of memory enhancers in sepsis-surviving rats.

Methods
The rats underwent cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) (sepsis group) with 'basic support' (saline at 50 mL/kg immediately and 12 hours after CLP plus ceftriaxone at 30 mg/kg and clindamycin at 25 mg/kg 6, 12, and 18 hours after CLP) or sham-operated (control group). After 10 or 30 days, rats were submitted to an inhibitory avoidance task. After task training, animals received injections of saline, epinephrine, naloxone, dexamethasone, or glucose. Twenty-four hours afterwards, animals were submitted to the inhibitory avoidance test.

Results
We demonstrated that memory enhancers reversed impairment in the sepsis group 10 and 30 days after sepsis induction. This effect was of lower magnitude when compared with sham animals 10 days, but not 30 days, after sepsis.

Conclusions
Using different pharmacologic approaches, we conclude that the adrenergic memory formation pathways are responsive in sepsis-surviving animals.