Methodology For Conversion Research Articles

A turnpike approach to solving the linear bottleneck assignment problem

The linear bottleneck assignment problem (LBAP), which is a variation of the classical assignment problem (CAP), seeks to minimize the longest completion time rather than the sum of the completion times when a number of jobs are to be assigned to the same number of workers. Several procedures have been proposed in the current literature to convert the LBAP into an equivalent CAP and then apply the Hungarian method to solve it efficiently. However, their applicability is limited because some of the elements in the transformed assignment matrix for the CAP can be too large to be handled by most computer programs. In this paper, we suggest a turnpike approach to alleviate the problem so that the conversion methodology will become more useful in practice. A numerical example is provided to demonstrate the superiority of the new algorithm to the existing ones.

Possibilities of bioconversion of agricultural waste with the use of microalgae

A new methodology of biological treatment and conversion of farm waste (manure and wash water) with the use of intensively cultivated phototrophic microorganisms (microalgae) is reviewed. Criteria for selection of microalgae and peculiarities of their intensive cultivation for efficient removal of biogenic ele� ments from and destruction of the organic components of the wastes as well as the possibilities of costeffec� tive utilization of the resulting microalgal biomass are considered. Advantages and drawbacks of the new methodology are compared with those of conventional anaerobic techniques. Special attention is paid to the integrated technologies combining the aerobic conversion methods with microalgal posttreatment.

Differentiation of reprogrammed human adipose mesenchymal stem cells toward neural cells with defined transcription factors

Somatic cell reprogramming may become a powerful approach to generate specific human cell types for cell-fate determination studies and potential transplantation therapies of neurological diseases. Here we report a reprogramming methodology with which human adipose stem cells (hADSCs) can be differentiated into neural cells. After being reprogrammed with polycistronic plasmid carrying defined factor OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC, and further treated with neural induce medium, the hADSCs switched to differentiate toward neural cell lineages. The generated cells had normal karyotypes and exogenous vector sequences were not inserted in the genomes. Therefore, this cell lineage conversion methodology bypasses the risk of mutation and gene instability, and provides a novel strategy to obtain patient-specific neural cells for basic research and therapeutic application.

WIN to CAMEL Conversion Methodology for Inter-Standard Roaming for Subscribers on Real Time Charging

Migration of the CDMA and GSM networks worldwide to LTE is a long drawn process. Even after migration, the 2G/3G and the CDMA Networks will coexist and will prevail for years. So enabling roaming between CDMA and GSM network is an unending endeavour. As per CDG (CDMA Development Group) there are presently 560 million plus CDMA subscribers worldwide. While there is a defined standard for basic Inter-standard Roaming for actuating ANSI 41 to MAP conversions, the methodology for actuating a protocol conversion between CAMEL (GSM) to WIN (CDMA) is still not defined. CAMEL and WIN are the key protocols for Real Time Charging for prepaid customers. So the inter conversion of these two protocols is a must for the success of Inter standard roaming. This paper attempts to unfurl the technology for realising both way Interworking between WIN and CAMEL protocols to facilitate roaming for the prepaid customers and thereby enhance the roaming penetration.

Technical Note: A simple method for air–sea gas exchange measurements in mesocosms and its application in carbon budgeting

Abstract. Mesocosms as large experimental units provide the opportunity to perform elemental mass balance calculations, e.g. to derive net biological turnover rates. However, the system is in most cases not closed at the water surface and gases exchange with the atmosphere. Previous attempts to budget carbon pools in mesocosms relied on educated guesses concerning the exchange of CO2 with the atmosphere. Here, we present a simple method for precise determination of air–sea gas exchange in mesocosms using N2O as a deliberate tracer. Beside the application for carbon budgeting, transfer velocities can be used to calculate exchange rates of any gas of known concentration, e.g. to calculate aquatic production rates of climate relevant trace gases. Using an arctic KOSMOS (Kiel Off Shore Mesocosms for future Ocean Simulation) experiment as an exemplary dataset, it is shown that the presented method improves accuracy of carbon budget estimates substantially. Methodology of manipulation, measurement, data processing and conversion to CO2 fluxes are explained. A theoretical discussion of prerequisites for precise gas exchange measurements provides a guideline for the applicability of the method under various experimental conditions.

Conversion of human fibroblasts to angioblast-like progenitor cells

Lineage conversion of one somatic cell type into another constitutes an attractive approach for research and clinical use. Lineage conversion can proceed in a direct manner, in the absence of proliferation and multipotent progenitor generation, or in an indirect manner, by the generation of expandable multipotent progenitor states. Here we report on the development of a combined reprogramming methodology that, transitioning through a plastic intermediate state, allows for the generation of human mesodermal progenitor cells while circumventing the traditional hallmarks of pluripotency. Converted mesodermal progenitor cells demonstrated bi-potent differentiation potential and were able to generate endothelial and smooth muscle lineages. Importantly, human fibroblasts can be converted into angioblast-like progenitor cells by non-integrative approaches. Differentiated angioblast-like cells exhibit neo-angiogenesis and anastomosis in vivo. The methodology for indirect lineage conversion to angioblast-like cells described here adds to the armamentarium of reprogramming approaches aimed at the clinical treatment of ischemic pathologies.

Chemoselective nitration of aromatic sulfonamides with tert-butyl nitrite

A methodology for the efficient conversion of aromatic sulfonamides into their mono-nitro derivatives using tert-butyl nitrite is reported. The reaction exhibits a high degree of chemoselectivity for sulfonamide functionalized aryl systems, even in the presence of other sensitive or potentially reactive functionalities.

A Simple Methodology for Conversion of Mouse Monoclonal Antibody to Human-Mouse Chimeric Form

Passive immunotherapy has mainly been used as a therapy against cancer and inflammatory conditions. Recent studies have shown that monoclonal antibody-(mAb-) based passive immunotherapy is a promising approach to combat virus infection. Specific mouse mAbs can be routinely generated in large amounts with the use of hybridoma technology but these cannot be used for therapy in human beings due to their immunogenicity. Therefore, the development of chimeric and humanized mAbs is important for therapeutic purpose. This is facilitated by a variety of molecular techniques like recombinant DNA technology and the better understanding of the structure and function of antibody. The human-mouse chimeric forms allow detailed analysis of the mechanism of inhibition and the potential for therapeutic applications. Here, a step-by-step description of the conversion process will be described. The commercial availability of the reagents required in each step means that this experimentation can be easily set up in research laboratories.

Address event representation neuromorphics to epiretinal colour vision

Presented is a methodology of conversion of a conventional colour measure, e.g. 24-bit colour, to a neuromorphic representation for use with epiretinal prostheses. The conversion implemented, for a 4 by 4 image, within a field programmable gate array outputs three groups of timing signals. These three groups correspond to red (R), green (G) and blue (B) colour channels. In future work the channels will input to a retinal implant stimulator, via a receiver chip housed over the earlobe of a prosthesis recipient, to form biphasic pulses to drive electrodes stimulating the axons of colour specific retinal ganglion cells. A test setup was used to encode the hue pulses back to intensity to display test images on a VGA monitor for validation.

Transforming rapeseed oil into fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) via the noncatalytic transesterification reaction

A simple methodology for producing biodiesel is presented. The noncatalytic transesterification was carried out via the thermochemical process because the main driving force of biodiesel conversion was temperature rather than pressure. Noncatalytic transformation of rapeseed oil into fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) was performed in a continuous flow system under ambient pressure in the presence of activated alumina, charcoal, and carbon dioxide (CO2). The biodiesel conversion methodology introduced in this work enables the esterification of fatty acids (FFAs), and transesterification of triglycerides to be combined into a single process and leads to a 97.5 (±0.5)% conversion efficiency of biodiesel within 1 min at 420–500°C. The new process has high potential to achieve a breakthrough in minimizing the cost of biodiesel production owing to its simplicity and technical advantages. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1468–1471, 2013

El cambio conceptual de dos maestras en relación con la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de la lengua oral a través de un asesoramiento: un estudio de casos

We present the results of a research project in which 4 teachers (2 kindergarten and 2 primary school teachers) took part. A counselling process using conversational methodology was carried out with one teacher from each setting to promote a conceptual change in the teachers’ representation of oral language teaching and learning processes. During a 4-month period, the 2 teachers in the experimental group participated in 2 counselling meetings with some of the researchers. We also carried out a focus group with all four teachers before and after the meetings. An ad hoc instrument was designed to analyze the meetings and the focus groups. The results show that teachers in the experimental group progressed from a conception focused on formal and content-based aspects of oral language to a conception that stresses language use, social interaction, and the strategies employed by teachers in class as explanatory factors for pupils’ oral language competence.

Lineage conversion methodologies meet the reprogramming toolbox

Lineage conversion has recently attracted increasing attention as a potential alternative to the directed differentiation of pluripotent cells to obtain cells of a given lineage. Different means allowing for cell identity switch have been reported. Lineage conversion relied initially on the discovery of specific transcription factors generally enriched and characteristic of the target cell, and their forced expression in cells of a different fate. This approach has been successful in various cases, from cells of the hematopoietic systems to neurons and cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, recent reports have suggested the possibility of establishing a general lineage conversion approach bypassing pluripotency. This requires a first phase of epigenetic erasure achieved by short overexpression of the factors used to reprogram cells to a pluripotent state (such as a combination of Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc and Oct4), followed by exposure to specific developmental cues. Here we present these different direct conversion methodologies and discuss their potential as alternatives to using induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiation protocols to generate cell populations of a given fate.

Fault Diagnosis of Generation IV Nuclear HTGR Components Using the Enthalpy-Entropy Graph Approach

Fault diagnosis (FD) is an important component in modern nuclear power plant (NPP) supervision to improve safety, reliability, and availability. In this regard, a significant amount of experience has been gained in FD of generation II and III water-cooled nuclear energy systems through active research. However, new energy conversion methodologies as well as advances in reactor and component technology support the study of different FD methods in modern NPPs. This paper presents the application of the enthalpy-entropy (h-s) graph for FD of generation IV nuclear high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) components. The h-s graph is adapted for fault signature generation by comparing actual operating plant graphs with reference models. Multiple input feature sets (patterns) are generated for the fault classification algorithm based on the error, area, and direction of the fault residuals. The effectiveness of the FD method is demonstrated by classifying 24 non-critical single faults in the main power system of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) during normal steady state operation as well as load following of the plant. Reference and fault data are calculated for the thermo-hydraulic network by means of a simulation model in Flownex ® Nuclear. The results show that the proposed FD method produces different uncorrelated fault signatures for all the examined fault conditions.

Design methodology for efficient frequency conversion in Bragg reflection lasers

Bragg reflection waveguides are shown to be structures that can enable the integration of a laser and optically nonlinear medium within the same cavity for efficient frequency conversion. An effective and simple method of designing phase-matched laser structures utilizing transfer matrix analysis is described. The structures are first optimized in terms of laser performance and then for enhancement of χ(2) nonlinearity. The method for optimization shows that designing for either optimum laser performance or optimum nonlinear performance can conflict. An efficiency term encompassing the requirements of both the laser and nonlinear element is derived. This serves as a figure of merit that includes parameters relevant to both the laser and the nonlinear device. It is then utilized to optimize the structure for efficient parametric conversion. This figure of merit is extended to examine parametric oscillation in the laser cavity for both singly resonant and doubly resonant configurations. It is found that threshold values of 4 W in a practical device can be obtained. Such power levels are easily obtained by mode locking the pump laser. With reduced propagation loss through etch and design improvement, sub-Watt thresholds can be realized.

Fault diagnosis of generation IV nuclear HTGR components – Part I: The error enthalpy–entropy graph approach

Fault diagnosis (FD) is an important element in modern nuclear power plant (NPP) diagnostic systems. In this respect, FD of generation II and III water-cooled nuclear energy systems has become an active research topic to continually improve levels of reliability, safety, and operation. However, evolutionary advances in reactor and component technology together with different energy conversion methodologies support the investigation of alternative approaches to FD. Within this context, the basic aim of this two part series is to adopt the application of the enthalpy–entropy ( h– s) graph approach for FD of generation IV nuclear high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) components. In Part I, the error method is utilized to derive fault patterns from the h– s graph in order to classify malfunctions via the fault classification index ( FCI) in the nuclear reactor, turbo-machinery (gas turbine and compressors), heat exchangers (pre-cooler, intercooler, and recuperator) and the primary transporting medium of the working fluid. The study is conducted on a 165 MW model of the main power system (MPS) of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) that is based on a single-shaft, closed-loop, direct Brayton thermodynamic cycle. Illustrative signatures that correspond to 24 single fault transients, categorized in three fault classes by means of a sensitivity analysis of a simplified HTGR, are presented. FD is demonstrated for steady state operation as well as load following of the MPS during normal power operation of the plant. In Part II of the series, a second classifier named the area error method is devised for NPP supervision to ultimately address the FD problem using a multiple classifier system. The application of the proposed h– s graph approach (both methods) is specifically illustrated for classification of an emulated fault transient in data from the real prototype Pebble Bed Micro Model (PBMM) plant.

Linear and Switch-Mode Conversion in 3-D Circuits

A methodology for DC-DC conversion in three-dimensional (3-D) circuits is described in this paper. The proposed approach exploits both linear and switching buck converters with different conversion ranges, thereby increasing power efficiency. By replacing the traditional LC filter within a switching converter with a distributed filter, a significant increase in efficiency is demonstrated. Additionally, the physical structure of the filter simultaneously enables the distribution of high current to the load while filtering the switching signal at the input. Design guidelines and expressions are developed, achieving good agreement with simulations based on the MIT Lincoln Laboratories CMOS/SOI 180-nm 3-D technology. The proposed converter distributes 2.5 A maximum current, achieving conversion from 3.3 V to 2.5 V and 1 V with, respectively, 74% and 44% power efficiency.

Conference Photo's

TRIPOLI is a Monte Carlo particle transport code simulating the three-dimensional transport of neutrons and photons with the Monte Carlo method, and it can be used for many applications to nuclear devices with complex geometries; however, modeling of a complex geometry is a time-consuming and error-prone task. The recently developed functions of Monte Carlo Automatic Modeling (MCAM) system, which is an interface code that can facilitate Monte Carlo modeling by employing the CAD technology, have implemented the bidirectional conversion between the CAD model and the TRIPOLI computation model. In this study, different geometric representations of CAD system and TRIPOLI code and the methodology of bidirectional conversion between them were introduced. A TRIPOLI input file of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) benchmark model, which was distributed to validate the Monte Carlo modeling tools, was created and applied to simulate D–T fusion neutron source sampling and calculate first wall loading. Then the results were compared with that of Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) and the good agreements present the feasibility and validity.

An activated triple bond linker enables 'click' attachment of peptides to oligonucleotides on solid support.

A general procedure, based on a new activated alkyne linker, for the preparation of peptide–oligonucleotide conjugates (POCs) on solid support has been developed. With this linker, conjugation is effective at room temperature (RT) in millimolar concentration and submicromolar amounts. This is made possible since the use of a readily attachable activated triple bond linker enhances the Cu(I) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (‘click’ reaction). The preferred scheme for conjugate preparation involves sequential conjugation to oligonucleotides on solid support of (i) an H-phosphonate-based aminolinker; (ii) the triple bond donor p-(N-propynoylamino)toluic acid (PATA); and (iii) azido-functionalized peptides. The method gives conversion of oligonucleotide to the POC on solid support, and only involves a single purification step after complete assembly. The synthesis is flexible and can be carried out without the need for specific automated synthesizers since it has been designed to utilize commercially available oligonucleotide and peptide derivatives on solid support or in solution. Methodology for the ready conversion of peptides into ‘clickable’ azidopeptides with the possibility of selecting either N-terminus or C-terminus connection also adds to the flexibility and usability of the method. Examples of synthesis of POCs include conjugates of oligonucleotides with peptides known to be membrane penetrating and nuclear localization signals.

Bone mineral imaged in vivo by 31P solid state MRI of human wrists

To implement solid state (31)P MRI ((31)P SMRI) in a clinical scanner to visualize bone mineral. Wrists of seven healthy volunteers were scanned. A quadrature wrist (31)P transmit/receive coil provided strong B(1) and good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A (1)H-(31)P frequency converter was constructed to enable detection of the (31)P signal by means of the (1)H channel. Data points lost in the receiver dead time were recovered by a second acquisition with longer dwell time and lower gradient strength. Three-dimensional (31)P images, showing only bone mineral of the wrist, were obtained with a clinical 3 Tesla (T) scanner. In the best overall case an image with isotropic resolution of ∼5.1 mm and SNR of 30 was obtained in 37 min. (31)P NMR properties (resonance line width 2 kHz and T(1) 17-19 s) of in vivo human bone mineral were measured. In vivo (31)P SMRI visualization of human wrist bone mineral with a clinical MR scanner is feasible with suitable modifications to circumvent the scanners' limitations in reception of short-T(2) signals. Frequency conversion methodology is useful for implementing (31)P SMRI measurements on scanners which do not have multinuclear capability or for which the multinuclear receiver dead time is excessive.

ROBOT ASSISTED STROKE REHABILITATION: JOINT TORQUE/FORCE CONVERSION FROM EMG USING SA PROCESS

This paper focuses on the implementation of robot-assisted stroke rehabilitation using electromyography (EMG) as the interface between the robot and subjects. The key issue in implementing EMG for this application is the conversion process of EMG signal into torque/force, which is used as a input to the control system. This paper presents a methodology of EMG signal conversion into estimated joint torque by using simulated annealing (SA) technique. Basic principle of SA, formulation, and implementation to the problem are discussed in this paper. Experimental studies with real life EMG data have been carried out for five subjects. These studies are used to evaluate the feasibility of the methodology proposed for robot-assisted stroke rehabilitation problem. Experimental investigations and results are discussed at the end of the paper.