pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
A process for the fabrication of ceramic fibre reinforced titanium aluminide

This paper describes initial work on a novel process for the production of titanium aluminide matrix composites reinforced with short alumina fibers. The processing route involves an adaption of existing metal matrix composite (MMC) fabrication technology used to produce hybrid particulate/short fiber composites. A preform is produced which contains alumina fibers and titanium metal powder with a fiber content of around 10% by volume and approximately 50% porosity. This preform is then infiltrated with pure aluminum by a squeeze casting process to produce a fully dense composite of titanium powder and alumina fibers in a metallic aluminum matrix. The composite is then heat treated in a hot isostatic press to react the aluminum and titanium to produce a titanium aluminide matrix
Special Education in Costa Rica

Recent educational initiatives have exponentially increased the number of students receiving special education in Costa Rica and the Minstry of Education is making a focused effort to coordinate these services. Undeniably progressive legislation now supports the rights of individuals with disabilities to work, receive public health services, and to be educated. While special education continues to expand in Costa Rica, untrained personnel limit the effectiveness of this instruction. The current challenge for Costa Rica is to ensure the quality of these special services, as well as the accessibility to them
Biosurveillance: Detecting, Tracking, and Mitigating the Effects of Natural Disease and Bioterrorism

Encyclopedia of Operations Research and the Management Sciences, Cochran, J.J. (ed.), John Wiley & Sons Ltd.The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470400531Biosurveillance is the regular collection, analysis, and interpretation of health and health related data for indicators of diseases and other outbreaks by public health organizations.  Motivated by the threat of bioterrorism, biosurviellance systems are being developed and implemented around the world.  The goal of these systems has been expanded to include both early event detection and situational awareness, so that the focus is not simply on detection, but also on response and consequence management.  Whether they rae useful for detecting bioterrorism or not, there seems to be consensus that these biosurveillance systems are likely to be useful for detecting bioterrorism or not, there seems to be consensus that these biosurveillance systems are likely to be useful for detecting and responding to naural disease outbreaks such as seasonal and pandemic flu, and thus they have potential to significantly advance and modernize the practice of public health surveillance
Regenerative processes

We review the theory of regenerative processes, which are processes that can
be intuitively seen as comprising of i.i.d.\ cycles. Although we focus on the
classical definition, we present a more general definition that allows for some
form of dependence between two adjacent cycles, and mention two further
extensions of the second definition. We mention the connection of regenerative
processes to the single-server queue, to multi-server queues and more generally
to Harris ergodic Markov chains and processes. In the main theorem, we pay some
attention to the conditions under which a limiting distribution exists and
provide references that should serve as a starting point for the interested
reader.Comment: 7 pages, 26 references, invited paper. Wiley Encyclopedia of
  Operations Research and Management Science, February 201
Renewal processes with costs and rewards

We review the theory of renewal reward processes, which describes renewal
processes that have some cost or reward associated with each cycle. We present
a new simplified proof of the renewal reward theorem that mimics the proof of
the elementary renewal theorem and avoids the technicalities in the proof that
is presented in most textbooks. Moreover, we mention briefly the extension of
the theory to partial rewards, where it is assumed that rewards are not accrued
only at renewal epochs but also during the renewal cycle. For this case, we
present a counterexample which indicates that the standard conditions for the
renewal reward theorem are not sufficient; additional regularity assumptions
are necessary. We present a few examples to indicate the usefulness of this
theory, where we prove the inspection paradox and Little's law through the
renewal reward theorem.Comment: 7 pages, 16 references, invited paper. Wiley Encyclopedia of
  Operations Research and Management Science, February 201
Synthetic biology—putting engineering into biology

Synthetic biology is interpreted as the engineering-driven building of increasingly complex biological entities for novel applications. Encouraged by progress in the design of artificial gene networks, de novo DNA synthesis and protein engineering, we review the case for this emerging discipline. Key aspects of an engineering approach are purpose-orientation, deep insight into the underlying scientific principles, a hierarchy of abstraction including suitable interfaces between and within the levels of the hierarchy, standardization and the separation of design and fabrication. Synthetic biology investigates possibilities to implement these requirements into the process of engineering biological systems. This is illustrated on the DNA level by the implementation of engineering-inspired artificial operations such as toggle switching, oscillating or production of spatial patterns. On the protein level, the functionally self-contained domain structure of a number of proteins suggests possibilities for essentially Lego-like recombination which can be exploited for reprogramming DNA binding domain specificities or signaling pathways. Alternatively, computational design emerges to rationally reprogram enzyme function. Finally, the increasing facility of de novo DNA synthesis—synthetic biology’s system fabrication process—supplies the possibility to implement novel designs for ever more complex systems. Some of these elements have merged to realize the first tangible synthetic biology applications in the area of manufacturing of pharmaceutical compounds.
The texture of thin NiSi films and its effect on agglomeration

Nickel silicide films are used as contacting materials in the micro electronics industry. It was recently [1] discovered that these films exhibit a peculiar type of texture, which was called 'axiotaxy', whereby certain lattice planes in the NiSi grains are preferentially aligned to (110)-type lattice planes in the single crystal Si substrate. In this contribution, we present a quantitative study of this phenomenon, using both XRD pole figure measurements and EBSD. Furthermore, we report a correlation between the texture of these NiSi films and their morphological stability during annealing at high temperature.
In spite of the small grain size in these films, EBSD could be used to determine the volume fractions of the various texture components. This provided quantitative support for the claim that axiotaxy is the main texture component in these films, as about 40% of the grains belong to one of the axiotaxial texture components, and the remaining fraction exhibits a random orientation. A discussion of the techniques used during the measurement and analysis of the EBSD data is presented, as this must be given special consideration in view of the peculiar type of texture encountered in these films.
Secondly, both XRD and EBSD were performed after annealing the NiSi films at various temperatures and durations. It is known that thin NiSi films have a strong tendency to agglomerate [2]. Our data indicates a correlation between the texture evolution and the agglomeration of the NiSi layer. Grains with axiotaxial orientation were observed to grow and thicken during the annealing process, by consuming neighboring randomly oriented grains. This suggests that the texture of the NiSi layer is a determining factor for the morphological stability of the film. The fact that grains with axiotaxial orientation grow during heat treatment can be related to the one dimensional periodicity at the interface, which lowers the interface energy and thus provides a driving force for the preferred growth of these grains. The agglomeration of NiSi films results in a significant increase of the sheet resistance. Therefore, these results illustrate the importance of texture control for the application of these films as contacts in micro-electronic devices
Calcium signalling in cardiac muscle cells

Producción CientíficaIn heart cells, severa! distinct kinds of transient spatial patterns of cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration ([ Ca2 + )¡) can be observed: (1) [ Ca2 + )¡ waves, in which regions of spontaneously increased [ Ca2 + ] ; propagate at high velocity (100 ¡.im/s) through the cell; (2) Ca2 + 'sparks', which are spontaneous, non-propagating changes in [ Ca2 + ] ; that are localized in small ( == 2 ¡.im) subcellular regions; and (3) evoked [ Ca2 + )¡ transients that are elicited by electrical  depolarization,  in  association  with  normal  excitation-contraction   (E­
C) coupling. In confocal [ Ca2 + ] ¡ images, evoked [ Ca2 + ] ; transients appear to be nearly spatially uniform throughout the cell, except during their rising phase or during small depolarizations. In contrast to [Ca2 + )¡ waves and spontaneous Ca2 + sparks, evoked [ Ca2 + ] ; transients are triggered by L-type Ca2 + channel current and they are 'controlled', in the sense that stopping the L-type Ca2 + current stops them. Despite their different characteristics, ali three types of Ca2 + transient involve Ca2 + -induced release of Ca2 + from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Here, we address the question of how the autocatalytic process of Ca2 + -induced Ca2 + release, which can easily be understood to underlie spontaneous regenerative ('uncontrolled'), propagating [Ca2 + )¡ waves, might be 'harnessed', under other circumstances, to produce controlled changes in [ Ca2 + ]¡, as during normal excitation-contraction coupling, or changes in [ Ca2 + )¡ that do not propagate. We discuss our observations of Ca2 + waves, Ca2 + sparks and normal Ca2 + transients in heart cells and review our results on the 'gain' of Ca2 + -induced Ca2 + release. We discuss a model involving Ca2 + microdomains beneath L-type Ca2 + channels, and clusters of Ca2 + -activated Ca2 + release channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum which may form the basis of the answer to this question18 p
In Situ Hybridization Assay-Based Small-Molecule Screening in Zebrafish

In vitro biochemical and cell-based small molecule screens have been widely used to identify compounds that target specific signaling pathways. But the identified compounds frequently fail at the animal testing stage, largely due to the in vivo absorption, metabolism and toxicity of chemicals. Zebrafish has recently emerged as a vertebrate whole organism model for small molecule screening. The in vivo bioactivity and specificity of compounds are examined from the very beginning of zebrafish screens. In addition, zebrafish is suitable for chemical screens at a large scale similar to cellular assays. This protocol describes an approach for in situ hybridization (ISH)-based chemical screening in zebrafish, which, in principle, can be used to screen any gene product. The described protocol has been used to identify small molecules affecting specific molecular pathways and biological processes. It can also be adapted to zebrafish screens with different readouts.Stem Cell and Regenerative Biolog
Probing Small-Molecule Microarrays with Tagged Proteins in Cell Lysates

The technique of small-molecule microarray (SMM) screening is based on the ability of small molecules to bind to various soluble proteins. This type of interaction is easily detected by the presence of a fluorescence signal produced by labeled antibodies that specifically recognize a unique sequence (tag) present on the target protein. The fluorescent signal intensity values are determined based on signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). SMM screening is a high-throughput, unbiased method that can rapidly identify novel direct ligands for various protein targets. This binding-based assay format is generally applicable to most proteins, but it is especially useful for protein targets that do not possess an enzymatic activity. SMMs enable screening a protein in a purified form or in the context of a cellular lysate, likely providing a more physiologically relevant screening environment.National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (CA160860
In Vivo Delivery of Nitric Oxide-Sensing, Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Detection of nitric oxide (NO) in vivo by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) is based on the fluorescent properties of SWNT and the ability of NO to quench the fluorescence signal. Alterations of the signal can be utilized to detect a small molecule in vivo that has not previously been possible by other assay techniques. The protocols described here explain the techniques used to prepare NO-detecting SWNTs and to administer them to mice by both intravenous and subcutaneous routes. These techniques can also be utilized with other SWNT sensors as well as non-SWNT sensorNational Institutes of Health (T32 Training Grant in Environmental Toxicology ES007020
Preparation and characterisation of plga-coated porous bioactive glass-ceramic scaffolds for subchondral bone tissue engineering

The present work involved the development of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-coated, porous 58S bioactive glass-ceramic scaffold for the bone-forming layer of a future bilayered scaffold for osteochondral tissue engineering.  Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical testing and preliminary cell culture investigations were performed to determine the suitability of the scaffold for the subchondral bone tissue engineering application.  The bioactive-glass ceramic scaffolds possessed excellent pore interconnectivity. Mechanical testing of the PLGA-coated bioactive glass-ceramic scaffolds demonstrated a compressive strength of 0.25±0.05 MPa.  The capacity of the bioactive glass-ceramic scaffold to proliferate human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) was also assessed through in vitro culturing.  SEM morphology investigations revealed that the BMSCs had a relatively high affinity for the PLGA-coated bioactive glass-ceramic scaffold and significant attachment and proliferation towards confluence occurred over a 21 day period
Poor people's movements

Published Online: 14 JAN 2013Poor people's movements describes contentious collective actors that are considered to be particularly powerless or weak in resources compared to other members of a community. Often, the term is used to describe spontaneous mass protest by members of social groups that are at the lower end of a socioeconomic scale or in a particularly marginalized position in a society, such as the homeless or the unemployed. Research into poor people's movements has shown, however, that these movements share similar organizational and coordinated social action to other movement activity. This entry examines the shared characteristics of these movements, how studies of poor people's movements over the past decades have changed, and the insights we have gained from studies on social movement activity of the poor for social movement theory
Encyclopedia of aerospace engineering

The original publication is available at www.wiley.com.A basic overview of optimization techniques is provided. The standard form of the general nonlinear, constrained optimization problem is presented, and various techniques for solving the resulting optimization problem are discussed. The techniques are classified as either local (typically gradient-based) or global (typically non-gradient based or evolutionary) algorithms. A great many optimization techniques exist and it is not possible to provide a complete review in the limited space available here. Instead, an effort is made to concentrate on techniques that are commonly used in engineering optimization applications. The review is kept general in nature, without considering special cases like linear programming, convex problems, multi-objective optimization, multi-disciplinary optimization, etc. The advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques are highlighted, and suggestions are made to aid the designer in selecting an appropriate technique for a specific problem at hand. Where possible, a short overview of a representative method is presented to aid the discussion of that particular class of algorithms.Postprin
Predicting the socio-technical future (and other myths)

A snooker ball model implies that simple, linear and predictable social change follows from the introduction of new technologies. Unfortunately technology does not have and has never had simple linear predictable social impacts. In this chapter we show that in most measurable ways, the pervasiveness of modern information and communication technologies has had little discernable ?impact? on most human behaviours of sociological significance. Historians of technology remind us that human society co-evolves with the technology it invents and that the eventual social and economic uses of a technology often turn out to be far removed from those originally envisioned. Rather than using the snooker ball model to attempt to predict future ICT usage and revenue models that are inevitably wrong, we suggest that truly participatory, grounded innovation, open systems and adaptive revenue models can lead us to a more effective, flexible and responsive innovation process
Energy efficiency improvement by implementation of the novel CRIMSON aluminium casting process

Foundry engineers in the traditional foundry usually regard the quality of casting component as the most important issue and leave the energy saving or energy efficiency as the subsidiary one. This frequently causes disproportionate energy consumption as a result of the inefficient casting processes used and increases the production costs. This paper presents the novel CRIMSON aluminium casting process and compares its facility and melting process with traditional melt furnaces and aluminium alloy melting process. A real example is investigated to demonstrate quantitatively how the traditional foundry wastes energy and what the improvement of energy efficiency can be achieved using the new CRIMSON method. The results of this investigation will help the foundry engineer recognize the importance of energy saving and demonstrate how to use this new technology to reduce production costs and carbon footprint without decreasing the quality of the cast component
Dynamic and semiparametric models

This paper surveys dynamic or state space models and their relationship to non- and semiparametric models that are based on the roughness penalty approach. We focus on recent advances in dynamic modelling of non-Gaussian, in particular discrete-valued, time series and longitudinal data, make the close correspondence to semiparametric smoothing methods evident, and show how ideas from dynamic models can be adopted for Bayesian semiparametric inference in generalized additive and varying coefficient models. Basic tools for corresponding inference techniques are penalized likelihood estimation, Kalman filtering and smoothing and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation.  Similarities, relative merits, advantages and disadvantages of these methods are illustrated through several applications.
Surface preparation of alumina for improved adhesive bond strength in armor applications

Surface treatments of alumina have been investigated with the aim of increasing the strength of the bond created between the alumina and a toughened epoxy adhesive. Four surface conditions have been assessed: as-fired; grit blasted; and krypton fluoride excimer laser treated under two sets of conditions. Compared with the as-fired surface, the grit blasted surface was rougher with poorer wettability, probably due to surface contamination. It was found that the laser treatments removed some of the sintering additives and caused rounding of the alumina grains, slightly increasing the surface roughness. Further, the laser treatment led to an increased surface energy and wettability, which has been linked tentatively to an observed increase in the hydroxyl groups on the surface. The adhesive bond strength was assessed by testing joints in tension and shear. It was found that the laser treated surfaces demonstrated slight improvements in bond strength, with a cohesive failure of the adhesive in tension for surfaces subjected to one of the two laser treatments, compared with failure at the interface for the as-fired, grit blasted and other laser treated samples in tension and for all samples in shear. Thus, it has been demonstrated that modifications to the surface of alumina can result in mechanical and chemical changes which affect roughness, wettability, bond strength and the locus of failure
Characterisation of corrosion of nuclear metal wastes encapsulated in magnesium silicate hydrate (MSH) cement

A novel low pH magnesium silicate hydrate cement system for encapsulating nuclear industry wastes have been developed using blends of MgO, silica fume (SF), MgCO3 and sand. Aluminium and Magnox swarf were encapsulated in both this new system and in a BFS/PC control system used in the nuclear industry. The interaction of the optimised mortar with the metal strips has been investigated, both in terms of rate of continued corrosion as well as the phases that form by reaction of the binder with different metal strips. Magnox swarf was better bound into the BFS/PC system than MgO/SF system whereas Al 1050 metal strips were bound better into the MgO/SF samples than into the BFS/PC reference mortar. No H2 generation was recorded when aluminium or magnox were encapsulated in the new binder, which is substantially better than what can be achieved with the reference system. Hence, the newly developed binder could potentially encapsulate mixtures of reactive metals better than the existing solution
Collective action clauses in sovereign bonds

The universal adoption of collective action clauses (CACs) was the most promising reform proposal in recent debates on sovereign debt crisis management. Academics and the public sector
had been promoting CACs since 1995, yet market practice did not begin to change until 2003. This delay is often attributed to the opposition of investors and sovereign borrowers to CACs.
This article evaluates the publicly stated as well as the suspected private motives of the two sides to block the spread of CACs. It draws on a wide range of existing evidence and adds some new theoretical considerations to show that there is no reason to be sceptical of CACs unless bailouts exist as an alternative crisis resolution mechanism. This conclusion may be of interest purely for the sake of historical accuracy. But more importantly, it may help to better understand and to assess any potential future resistance from market participants, e.g. in the process of introducing CACs in bonds governed by German law.
Space, place and power : the spatial turn in literacy research

Place matters to literacy because the meanings of our language and actions are always materially and socially placed in the world (Scollon & Scollon, 2003). We cannot interpret signs, whether an icon, symbol, gesture, word, or action, without taking into account their associations with other meanings and objects in places. This chapter maps an emergent  strand of literacy research that foregrounds place and space as constitutive, rather than a backdrop for the real action. Space and place are seen as relational and dynamic, not as fixed and unchanging.  Space and place are socially produced, and hence, can be contested, re-imagined and re-made. In bringing space and place into the frame of literacy studies we see a subtle shift – a rebalancing of the semiotic with the materiality of lived, embodied, and situated experience. ..