Column Position Research Articles

Variations in vibrissal geometry across the rat mystacial pad: base diameter, medulla, and taper.

Many rodents tactually sense the world through active motions of their vibrissae (whiskers), which are regularly arranged in rows and columns (arcs) on the face. The present study quantifies several geometric parameters of rat whiskers that determine the tactile information acquired. Findings include the following. 1) A meta-analysis of seven studies shows that whisker base diameter varies with arc length with a surprisingly strong dependence on the whisker's row position within the array. 2) The length of the whisker medulla varies linearly with whisker length, and the medulla's base diameter varies linearly with whisker base diameter. 3) Two parameters are required to characterize whisker "taper": radius ratio (base radius divided by tip radius) and radius slope (the difference between base and tip radius, divided by arc length). A meta-analysis of five studies shows that radius ratio exhibits large variability due to variations in tip radius, while radius slope varies systematically across the array. 4) Within the resolution of the present study, radius slope does not differ between the proximal and distal segments of the whisker, where "proximal" is defined by the presence of the medulla. 5) Radius slope of the medulla is offset by a constant value from radius slope of the proximal portion of the whisker. We conclude with equations for all geometric parameters as functions of row and column position.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Rats tactually explore their world by brushing and tapping their whiskers against objects. Each whisker's geometry will have a large influence on its mechanics and thus on the tactile signals the rat obtains. We performed a meta-analysis of seven studies to generate equations that describe systematic variations in whisker geometry across the rat's face. We also quantified the geometry of the whisker medulla. A database provides access to geometric parameters of over 500 rat whiskers.

Poster ‐ 57: Statistical analysis of setup correction for radical IMRT lung patients on a treatment couchtop with six degrees of freedom

Purpose:To characterize the distributions of setup corrections for radical IMRT lung patients treated on a couchtop with six degrees of freedom (6DOF).Methods:Translational and rotational setup corrections were retrospectively analyzed for patients treated on the HexaPODTM 6DOF couchtop. Conventional and hypo‐fractioned radical IMRT lung treatments were included, for a total of 152 patients and 2,042 fractions. The distribution of setup corrections was analyzed for each DOF. Potential correlations between pairs of corrections were examined and possible causes identified. Intra‐patient variability of setup corrections was characterized.Results:For lateral, longitudinal and vertical setup corrections, the mean ± 1 S.D. (in mm) were: −0.6 ± 3.8, 2.8 ± 5.1, and 1.1 ± 3.9. Each of the three means is statistically significant from the theoretical population mean of zero (p<0.01). For rotations, the means were within 0.1° from zero, with a standard deviation of 1.3°. Moderate correlation (r = −0.45) was observed between longitudinal and pitch corrections, which can be caused by changes in the spinal column position, to which registration is mostly done. The standard deviation for intra‐patient corrections varies among patients: 2 – 10 mm for translations and 0.5 – 3° for rotations. Intra‐patient variability in translations has a positive correlation with that in rotations.Conclusions:In 6DOF setup corrections for lung patients, systematic translational corrections were observed, with moderate correlation between longitudinal and pitch corrections. Careful setups and custom immobilization may help reduce such offsets, correlations, and intra‐patient setup variability.

Sample Tilt Effects on Atom Column Position Determination in ABF-STEM Imaging

The determination of atom positions from atomically resolved transmission electron micrographs is fundamental for the analysis of crystal defects and strain. In recent years annular bright-field (ABF) imaging has become a popular imaging technique owing to its ability to map both light and heavy elements. Contrast formation in ABF is partially governed by the phase of the electron wave, which renders the technique more sensitive to the tilt of the electron beam with respect to the crystal zone axis than high-angle annular dark-field imaging. Here we show this sensitivity experimentally and use image simulations to quantify this effect. This is essential for error estimation in future quantitative ABF studies.

Extraction of structural and chemical information from high angle annular dark-field image by an improved peaks finding method.

With the development of spherical aberration (Cs) corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), high angle annular dark filed (HAADF) imaging technique has been widely applied in the microstructure characterization of various advanced materials with atomic resolution. However, current qualitative interpretation of the HAADF image is not enough to extract all the useful information. Here a modified peaks finding method was proposed to quantify the HAADF-STEM image to extract structural and chemical information. Firstly, an automatic segmentation technique including numerical filters and watershed algorithm was used to define the sub-areas for each atomic column. Then a 2D Gaussian fitting was carried out to determine the atomic column positions precisely, which provides the geometric information at the unit-cell scale. Furthermore, a self-adaptive integration based on the column position and the covariance of statistical Gaussian distribution were performed. The integrated intensities show very high sensitivity on the mean atomic number with improved signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. Consequently, the polarization map and strain distributions were rebuilt from a HAADF-STEM image of the rhombohedral and tetragonal BiFeO3 interface and a MnO2 monolayer in LaAlO3 /SrMnO3 /SrTiO3 heterostructure was discerned from its neighbor TiO2 layers. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:820-826, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A narrative analysis positioning HIV relative to personal (sexual) relationship challenges in an agony aunt column in the Western Cape, South Africa – Aunty Mona’s “love advice”

ABSTRACTHIV prevalence and incidence in South Africa remain high, making HIV a part of everyday life. Community narratives on HIV treatment and prevention are important and influence official and unofficial health messaging and community perceptions and understandings of HIV. We explore how contributors and the columnist of an agony aunt column position HIV relative to choices made about love, partnership, and sex over three years. We analysed all columns of an agony aunt series (Antie Mona) published between December 2012 and November 2015. The column is published in a South African, Afrikaans-language newspaper “Son”, prioritising sensationalist news items. Trends were identified through narrative analysis. Data were managed in ATLAS.ti and inductive, iterative coding conducted. It was found that letters to the agony aunt rarely refer to HIV directly (less than 7%). Euphemisms such as diseases of the flesh and the great flu were more commonly used instead of HIV or AIDS. Letters addressed HIV in three ways: direct references to experiences living with HIV; direct questions about HIV prevention; and scenarios where HIV could (from a public health perspective) have been the main concern, but everyday issues took precedence. The majority of letters fell into this latter category where the writers focused on the immediate concerns of good sexual relations, problems related to love and romantic relationships, good moral behaviour of others, and issues of oppressive life conditions rather than on HIV directly. The findings illustrate that informal, public contributions to health information, such as agony aunts, are important narratives that inform popular perspectives on HIV and health. A better appreciation of this context would allow health implementers to ensure that these role players receive updated health messaging to avoid the risk of HIV-related stigma where HIV is used as a moral rod to punish perceived moral transgressions.

A Cell-Array-Based Multibiometric Cryptosystem

This paper presents a new framework for a biometric cryptosystem in which a cryptographic key is concealed with biometric modalities. In this paper, the candidate biometric modality is secured using two functions: 1) BCH encoding, which delivers the parity-code stored for the alignment of the query biometric template and 2) the Hash function to compute hash-code in order to safeguard its integrity. The cryptosystem is formed by creating two different cell-arrays. The hash-code is scattered on one cell-array by a randomly chosen column position, and the secret key is distributed over the second cell-array on the same position. The other cell-array locations are filled with the randomly generated chaff vectors. The parity-code is then jumbled up using a regenerative XORCoding in order to hide it from unauthorized access. At the unlocking stage, the parity-code is regenerated using XORcode and used to align the query template to the original one. If the hashed-code computed from the aligned template can locate the correct locations of the original hashed-code from the feature-array, it can get back the secret-key from the key-array and the correspondingly secret message. The proposed algorithm is implemented and evaluated in two modes: 1) unimodal and 2) multimodal. The experimental results from publicly available databases confirm the superiority of the multimodal cryptosystems over the unimodal cryptosystems.

Behavioral responses of freshwater calanoid copepods to the presence of ultraviolet radiation: avoidance and attraction

Binary choice experiments under natural solar radiation were used to test short-term behavioral responses of freshwater calanoid copepods to ultraviolet radiation (UV). Responses of the nine species from 15 populations spanning North and South America included both UV attraction and UV avoidance, and varied among habitats, species and populations. Copepods from more transparent lakes were more attracted to UV than those from less transparent lakes. When individuals were pre-exposed in the laboratory to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in the presence and absence of UV, those pre-exposed to UV spent more time in the high UV environment than those exposed to PAR alone. However, these differences disappeared after 150 min, suggesting that the responses were short term and mediated in part by ambient UV conditions. Copepods represent a large proportion of the biomass of zooplankton in many aquatic ecosystems, and their ability to detect and respond behaviorally to UV may enable them to use this ubiquitous environmental cue to regulate their water column position. The use of UV as a habitat selection cue may permit copepods to exploit optimal food environments or limit overlap with less UV-tolerant competitors, predators or parasites, while minimizing damage resulting from longer term UV exposure.

Esophageal Air in Patients with Globus Pharyngeus

Background and Objectives The etiology of globus pharyngeus remains uncertain. It has been known there is a relationship between the presence of air bubbles in esophagus and GERD symptoms. The aim of this study is to identify relationship between the globus symptom and the presence of air column in esophagus. Subjects and Methods The study population consisted of 46 patients who underwent CT scan as part of evaluation for globus. Controls were chosen from the population consisted of patients with lymphadenopathy who underwent CT scan. The correlation between the presence of globus symptom and diameter, volume, and position of the air column was assessed using t-test. Reproducibility of diameter and volume of the esophageal air column was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient. Results In study group, the mean volume of the air column was 769.56±983.08mm3 the mean diameter was 8.24±4.90mm, the mean distance from the inferior border of posterior lamina of cricoid cartilage was 88.86±28.01mm. In control group, 682.18±767.28mm3, 8.37±5.50mm, 88.34±21.06mm, respectively. There were no differences of diameter, volume and distance of the air column between the two groups. We failed to obtain acceptable reliability when we compare the diameter and the volume of the esophageal air column. Conclusion There was no relationship between air column of esophagus and presence of globus symptom. And the measurement of diameter and volume of the esophageal air column change over time and it should be considered in a further study. Key words: Globus hystericus ㆍ Esophagus ㆍ Radiographic anatomy 핵심용어: ížˆìŠ¤í Œë¦¬êµ¬ ㆍ 식도 ㆍ ë°©ì‚¬ì„ í•´ë¶€í•™

Improved One-Dimensional Models for Rapid Emptying and Filling of Pipelines

Improved one-dimensional (1D) models—compared to previous work by the authors—are proposed which are able to predict the velocity, length, and position of the liquid column in the rapid emptying and filling of a pipeline. The models include driving pressure and gravity, skin friction and local drag, and holdup at the tail and gas intrusion at the front of the liquid column. Analytical and numerical results are validated against each other, and against experimental data from a large-scale laboratory setup.

Sample tilt effects on atom column position determination in ABF–STEM imaging

The determination of atom positions from atomically resolved transmission electron micrographs is fundamental for the analysis of crystal defects and strain. In recent years annular bright-field (ABF) imaging has become a popular imaging technique owing to its ability to map both light and heavy elements. Contrast formation in ABF is partially governed by the phase of the electron wave, which renders the technique more sensitive to the tilt of the electron beam with respect to the crystal zone axis than high-angle annular dark-field imaging. Here we show this sensitivity experimentally and use image simulations to quantify this effect. This is essential for error estimation in future quantitative ABF studies.

A simplified approach to assess progressive collapse resistance of reinforced concrete framed structures

Progressive collapse resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) building structures can be assessed by sudden column loss scenarios. Penultimate column loss is among the most critical scenarios since it leaves the affected beam-slab systems with lack of external lateral restraints. Under such accidental situation, flexural action in the double-span beams and slabs bridging over the removed column is experimentally identified as the main mechanism to redistribute the gravity loads, which is amplified by double span effect and dynamic effect. This paper presents a simplified approach for progressive collapse assessment of RC building structures subjected to a penultimate column loss. The collapse resistance is calculated based on an idealized elastic–plastic static response of a double-span beam-slab structure, which is constructed with (i) ultimate flexural capacity of the beam-slab structure that is determined by yield-line method of analysis and (ii) displacement ductility at the removed column position that is established based on curvature ductility of a critical connection touching on the affected area. The idealized static response is validated by experimental results of 12 beam-slab sub-assemblage tests. A simple step-by-step procedure together with worked examples are provided. Practical application of this approach and design recommendations for mitigating progressive collapse are discussed.

The influence of environmental variables on the functional structure of headwater stream fish assemblages: a study of two tropical basins in Central Brazil

We investigated functional patterns of fish assemblages of two adjacent basins (Araguaia and Tocantins) to test whether their headwater stream fish assemblages are more functionally (dis)similar than expected by chance and whether these (dis)similarities are related to differences of environmental conditions between basins. We used an analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) on a functional dissimilarity matrix to test for (dis)similarities between fish assemblages of both basins. We performed RLQ and fourth-corner analyses to determine fish species trait-environment relationship. Our results revealed functional dissimilarities between fish assemblages of both basins and significant species trait-environment relationships, suggesting that environmental conditions are driving such dissimilarities. Inter-basin dissimilarities are mainly driven by altitudinal and water temperature gradients, whereas dissimilarities among streams within the basins are influenced by channel depth, turbidity and conductivity. These five environmental variables mostly affected six fish species traits (body mass, water column position, substrate preference, parental care, foraging locality and migration) in different manners. This study is an attempt to understand functional trends of fish assemblages in a tropical region that remains poorly known but severely threatened.

NUMERICAL STUDIES ON FLAT SLAB STRCTURES SUPPORTED ON NON-RECTANGULAR GRIDS

Construction of flat slab structures has increased enormously in recent times. Well established procedures are available in the literature and codes for the analysis, design and detailing of flat slab structures supported on regular rectangular column grids. However, these structures pose a greater challenge to the designers, when they are supported on non-rectangular column grids. Use of non- rectangular column grids is often necessitated in the modern context, due to varied parking requirements, floor wise variation of building plans, site constraints etc. Besides, the seismic performance of flat slab structures has been the subject of interest for the researchers over the years. Though their works established the behavior of flat slabs supported on regular rectangular grids to a greater extent, the seismic behavior of flat slab structure supported on non-rectangular grids, still needs detailed investigations. Lack of adequate information in literature and non availability of standard specifications in codes on these types & structures indicate the immediate necessity for such investigations. This paper presents the inferences of extensive numerical investigations on a chosen flat slab structure for possible shifting, breaking and new formations of column strips with the variation in the position of an interior column, which makes the regular rectangular grids into non- rectangular. The sensitivity of the structure is explored by varying the position of an interior column. The variation of moments and shears in column strips in the flat slab under static and dynamic loads are observed and are also plotted. Further, a 10 storeyed flat slab structure is analysed and the results are studied to know the effect of staggering a column of a rectangular grid, on the moments in chosen (corner, side and interior) columns, under both static and dynamic loads. Results reveal that there is every need to consider the effect of non rectangularity column grids on the formation of column strips, moments and shears in column strips, the detailing of reinforcement in column strips and also the moments in the columns of such flat slab structures.

Induction Motor Control Using PSO-ANFIS

Abstract The speed of the Induction motor can be adjusted to a great extent so as to provide easy control and high performance. In this paper an effort is made to develop a prototype model to control the speed of an induction motor using PSO-ANFIS hybrid technique. We describe the use of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and ANFIS for designing an optimal fuzzy logic controller of an Induction Motor. We have used two input parameters like speed, torque and output is firing angle. PSO-ANFIS speed controller obtains better dynamic behavior and superior performance of the Induction motor speed control. Similar approach can be correlated to the control of plasma column and which can be implemented in fusion reactor to control the plasma column. Plasma position and shape control is very crucial for the overall performance of the fusion reactor such as tokamak. The quality of the discharge in the Saskatchewan TORus-Modified (STOR-M) tokamak is strongly related to the position of the plasma column within the discharge vessel. If the plasma column approaches too near the wall, then either minor or complete disruption occurs. Consequently it is necessary to be able to control dynamically the position of the plasma column throughout the entire discharge. A comparison analysis of PSO-ANFIS and Fuzzy Back Propagation algorithm is taken in our work to control the speed of induction motor, where the PSO-ANFIS gives better result in terms of fast computing.

Simulation of Soil Water and Salt Transport with Sand Column in Coastal Saline Soil Based on COMSOL

In the paper, transport of water and Cl- under leaching was 2D-digitally simulated with COMSOL Multi-physics. In a two-dimensional transient cross-sectional model. COSMOL was used to investigate water and solute transport in the soil column coupled with variable sand column forms, with “a” denoting no sand column, “b” with one vertical middle sand column, “c “ with one long Slanted sand column, “d” with two long Slanted X-shaped sand columns. The parameters of the model were primarily based on the soil physical properties measured at coastal clay loam saline soil in Tianjin. The simulation results showed that, given same initial and same boundary conditions, sand column increased the transport efficiency of water and salt, which depends on the position and angle of sand column accordingly. The slanted columns were overall superior to the vertical ones in transport efficiency. In sum, “d” was the best type, “c” was the second best and “b” was the third, according to the efficiency of salt leaching and the efficiency of the utilization of water resources.

Effects of Braces on Progressive Collapse Resistance of Steel Frame

In order to carry on the progressive collapse analysis more properly, nonlinear-dynamic analysis method is used to analyze five-storey of steel frame structure. Four structure schemes have been established, namely frames, frames with horizontal braces, frames with vertical braces and frames with horizontal cross braces. According to analyzing with different position of failure column on the first floor, the curves of displacement-time of column failure point and axial force of failure column’s neighboring are obtained. The results indicate that horizontal braces can reduce the vertical displacement above damaged column and the axial force of the columns on the first floor evidently. The vertical displacement of horizontal cross braces is less than which of horizontal braces.

17세기 중층 불전의 구조형식 특성에 관한 연구

This study is basically about multi-storied Buddhist-hall in 17th Century Temple. Until now we know that there are the whole bay set-back style and the half bay set-back style in the viewpoint of the column position between upper floors and lower floors in multi-storied buildings. And there are the angle beam type, the angle tie type, the high corner column type, none corner column type in the half bay set-back style. But the angle beam type was intensively used in multi-storied buddihist halls especially in 17th century. The eventually purpose of this study is to find out why the type of angle beam was only used in multi-storied buddhist halls in 17th. The angle tie type was only used in DaeUngJeon, BupJuSa. The angle tie was longer than the angle beam used in other 5 buddhist halls. So the angle tie was supported with the column. But the angle beam were strong than the angle tie. Because the angle beam was put in the column directly. It concluded that the people regarded structural stability of the multi-storied buddhist halls.

Simulating Velocity Distribution of Dam Breaks with the Particle Method

AbstractThis paper provides a quantitative comparison of a benchmarking dam-break case simulated by a particle method. The velocity comparison is usually absent in particle-method simulation, but both the water surface and velocity distribution are presented in this study. Various velocity profiles are shown at different sections located either upstream or downstream of the gate position of the initial water column. The effects of a turbulence model and particle size are then discussed to show the necessity of using a turbulence model in particle method. The comparisons show good agreement in both the water surface profiles and velocity distributions. The utilization of turbulence model and roughness coefficient in moving particle Semiimplicit (MPS) method improves the velocity distribution compared with the standard MPS method. A quantitative comparison of velocity distribution on the basis of relative root mean squared error (RRMSE) value was also executed to show the capacity of MPS method in simulatin...

Competition Model Design of Anti Debris Flow Structure with Pillar Supported

A anti debris lash structural competition model of pillar supported house was introduced. Frame structure was adopted in the model and energy conversion beams were built in the hollow floor beams. The upper face of the energy conversion beam was inclined at the support position of the upper column. The energy conversion beam can raise the upper structure when horizontal displacement was produced after collision. Construction details of the model was introduced, structure mechanics analysis and simplified calculation was conducted. By installation of energy conversion beam, the horizontal impact kinetic energy was transformed into the potential energy needed by the rise of upper sub-structure. Experimental result shows the anti impact performance of the structural model is good.

Power supplies for plasma column control in the COMPASS tokamak

The main magnetic fields in COMPASS – i.e. The Toroidal, Magnetising, Equilibrium, and Shaping Fields – are created by a set of four corresponding thyristor power supplies controlled in a 0.5ms loop.The plasma position has to be controlled both radially and vertically by two additional magnetic fields provided by two fast amplifiers (FAs) based on MOSFET technology, each supplying ±100V and up to ±5kA.Currently, an ongoing project aims at ELM triggering by fast changes of the vertical position of the plasma column, also referred to as vertical kicks. For this purpose, a new Vertical Kicks Power Supply (VKPS) capable of quick change of vertical plasma position is being constructed. This power supply should operate at up to 1.2kV with switching frequency up to 5kHz. It is designed as a H-bridge but based on IGBT transistors which can be operated at higher voltages than MOSFETs.In this paper, we focus on the FAs and VKPS engineering design and required output parameters. Both the power supplies are based on modern components with highest available ratings in their categories. Unique design of the power supplies takes advantage of the short duration of the COMPASS discharge by overloading the transistors above their maximal steady-state rating.The FA is regularly operating, so that in addition to describing its design, we also describe the achieved performance parameters. Finally, the common controller unit, communication, and error handling is described.