Standard Blocks Research Articles

TU-EE-A2-05: Challenges in Limiting Kidney Dose When Delivering Total Body Irradiation (TBI) for Patients with Severe Systemic Sclerosis (SSc)

Purpose: To describe challenges in limiting kidney dose when delivering TBI to SSc patients enrolled on a multicenter Phase II/III SCOT (Scleroderma Cyclophosphamide or Transplantation) protocol. Material and Methods: The SCOT protocol uses a preparative regimen of 800 cGy TBI. The kidney dose is limited to 200 cGy. This level of attenuation is atypical for TBI. Hence, the effect of the block thickness and proximity to the spinal cord was investigated with EDR film in an anthropomorphic phantom using 5 cm thick kidney blocks positioned 3, 5, and 8 cm apart. Due to their poor renal function, the kidneys of SSc patients cannot be localized using intravenous contrast. Therefore, methods of kidney-localization and block-positioning were devised. Six patients have been treated on the TBI arm of the trial at Duke and information on kidney shape and the shifts from prone to standing position were recorded using diagnostic ultrasound (US). Results: A 10–20% dose inhomogeneity in the lumbar spine region is achievable with a minimum kidney block separation of 4–5 cm (typical width of a vertebral body). Two methods for kidney localization have been proposed. Block design and placement can be accomplished using a combination of CT and US or CT alone. Kidney-localization based on the combination of CT and US enables more accurate block-positioning and reduces the superior-inferior block margins. Kidney shape proved similar among the six patients imaged, leading to a potential use of standard kidney blocks. The US information revealed a wide range of kidney travel, both inferior and superior with a magnitude as large as 3.3 cm. Conclusions: The dose to the kidneys can be attenuated by 75% (per protocol) during TBI while maintaining a 10–20% dose inhomogeneity. The kidneys can be localized more accurately using both CT and US than CT alone.

Analysis of Spherical Carbides Formed in Chromium Added Hypereutectoid Bearing Steels

Microstructures in a bearing steel, JIS SUJ2, have been observed and analyzed in detail by means of transmission electron microscope and synchrotron radiation diffraction in SPring-8. Spherodized carbides in the steel are generally recognized as spherical cementite particles, but some of them have been clearly shown to be M23C6 type of carbide in this study. The shapes and sizes of these two types of carbides are similar to each other. On the martensitic matrix of the steel, it is believed to be stable at relatively low temperature, but it is also shown to be decomposed to form cementite by prolonged aging at 383 K, which provides a reason for decrease in hardness in standard hardness blocks, previously reported by the authors.

Continuous Modeling of a Multi‐Link Flexible Transmission

The problem of dynamic, infinite dimension, modeling of a transmission is considered. An accurate Laplace transfer function matrix of the system that consists of flexible shafts connected by gears that are either rigid or flexible is found. The first step is deriving a set of single input, infinite dimension, transfer functions for a single uniform link. The building blocks of those transfer functions are time delays, representing the wave motion, and low order rational expressions, representing the boundary phenomena. The next step is combining these individual transfer functions into an overall model of the transmission, by means of the link reaction approach that makes use of the geometric relationships and reaction moments between neighboring links. The outcome is a generalized dynamic model with the moments in the gear pairs as the generalized state vector. The explicit and highly structured form of the transfer functions allows physical insight into the system, exact calculation of natural frequencies and the construction of exact simulation schemes built from standard blocks that are available in multi‐purpose simulation software.

Repurposing Consumer Hardware

These days you have to be more and more creative when tackling home technology projects because the inventory of raw material is changing so rapidly. Market and product cycles continue to shrink, standard form factors are being discarded to drive down costs, and pricing is becoming more dependent on market value and less on direct manufacturing cost. As a result, standard modular building blocks are disappearing. New alternative uses for obsolete or low-price products are emerging, however. I enjoy finding ways to extract new value from new or used hardware platforms, so I think it’s still a good time to be a technology hobbyist.

Clinical and pathological correlations in male breast cancer: intratumoral aromatase expression via tissue microarray

Male breast cancer (MBC) commonly expresses hormone receptors and there is anecdotal evidence of disease responsivity to aromatase inhibitors in the metastatic setting. Our objectives were to: (i) assess clinical-pathologic characteristics in a consecutive cohort of MBC (ii) evaluate intratumoral aromatase (ITA) expression via tissue microarray (TMA) and (iii) assess the prognostic impact of ITA METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted to identify all cases of MBC seen at the Nova Scotia Cancer Center between 1985 and 2005. Specimens were reviewed for standard pathologic characteristics and tumor blocks were incorporated into three TMA's (four 1 mm cores per tumor). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for ER, PR, Her2-neu and ITA was performed blinded to clinical outcomes. ITA staining intensity was compared to control, benign hepatic tissue and if greater than or equal to liver was scored positive and if less than liver was scored negative. The log-rank test was used for survival comparisons and Kaplan-Meyer curves were used to estimate 3- and 5-year progression-free and overall survival probabilities. Fifty-four cases were identified with a median age of 64 (31-85 years). Median tumor size was 2.6 cm (0.3-8.0 cm) and 22(41%) had nodal metastases. Forty-five cases had tissue available for IHC. Of these, 40 (89%) were ER and 33 (73%) were PR positive. Her2-neu was overexpressed in four cases (10%) and 12 (27%) were positive for ITA expression. ITA positive tumors were less likely to be grade 3, have lymphovascular invasion or nodal metastases and were more likely to be of favorable histology compared to ITA negative tumors. In univariate analysis strong (versus weak) ITA expression was associated with improved 5 year overall (92% vs. 49%, P = 0.038) but not progression-free (82% vs. 76% P = 0.44) survival rates. Tumors with strong ITA expression may have a less aggressive phenotype compared to those with negative/weak ITA expression. Further investigation of ITA as a relevant prognostic factor as well as a potential therapeutic target in MBC is warranted.

Gene Expression Profiling of Breast Cancer

DNA microarray platforms for gene expression profiling were invented relatively recently, and breast cancer has been among the earliest and most intensely studied diseases using this technology. The molecular signatures so identified help reveal the biologic spectrum of breast cancers, provide diagnostic tools as well as prognostic and predictive gene signatures, and may identify new therapeutic targets. Data are best presented in an open access format to facilitate external validation, the most crucial step in identifying robust, reproducible gene signatures suitable for clinical translation. Clinically practical applications derived from full expression profile studies already in use include reduced versions of microarrays representing key discriminatory genes and therapeutic targets, quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, or immunohistochemical surrogate panels (suitable for application to standard pathology blocks). Prospective trials are now underway to determine the value of such tools for clinical decision making in breast cancer; these efforts may serve as a model for using such approaches in other tumor types.

Thermodynamic problems in structural molecular biology

Abstract The most essential feature of living biological systems is their high degree of structural organization. The key role is played by two linear heteropolymers, the proteins and nucleic acids. Under environmental conditions close to physiological, these biopolymers are folded into unique native conformations, genetically determined by the arrangement of their standard building blocks. In their native conformation, biological macromolecules recognize their partners and associate with them, forming specific, higher-order complexes, the "molecular machines". Folding of biopolymers into their native conformation and their association with partners is in principle a reversible, thermodynamically driven process. Investigation of the thermodynamics of these basic biological processes has prime importance for understanding the mechanisms of forming these supra-macromolecular constructions and their functioning.

The Present and Future of Hardness Standard Blocks

Looking at the current status of hardness standards, we occasionally come across the view that it is sufficient that hardness measurements can be matched somewhat forcibly to the hardness values of standard blocks. However, if the direct accuracy of a hardness tester and indenter and loading conditions are well managed and appropriate testing procedures are taken, the measurement of hardness should naturally agree with the value indicated on a standard block, and “hardness” should be an industrial quantity obtained in that way. Therefore, we should recognize anew the original purpose of a hardness standard block as a standard tool, such as the daily inspection (indirect verification) of a tester and/or whether testing practices are under proper management, as well as to make a comparison between testers and/or between indenters. From this standpoint, we, in the capacity of a dedicated test-block manufacturer, discuss the principles of hardness test methods, the uniformity, durability and trends of hardness standard blocks, and future hardness standards relative to the ISO standards, based on our past results from testing and experiments with a number of standard blocks.

The promise of synthetic biology

DNA synthesis has become one of the technological bases of a new concept in biology: synthetic biology. The vision of synthetic biology is a systematic, hierarchical design of artificial, biology-inspired systems using robust, standardized, and well-characterized building blocks. The design concept and examples from four fields of application (genetic circuits, protein design, platform technologies, and pathway engineering) are discussed, which demonstrate the usefulness and the promises of synthetic biology. The vision of synthetic biology is to develop complex systems by simplified solutions using available material and knowledge. Synthetic biology also opens a door toward new biomaterials that do not occur in nature.

Modelling and dynamic simulation of a moving bed bioreactor for the treatment of municipal wastewater

A model for the dynamic simulation of a pilot scale moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) used for the treatment of municipal wastewater is proposed. The proposed MBBR model includes attachment of particulates to the biofilm and detachment of biofilm into the bulk liquid. The biofilm growth kinetics are modelled with the activated sludge model no. 1 (ASM1). Diffusional mass transport limitations are implemented implicitly by ASM1 and manifest by adapted half-saturation coefficients in the Monod expressions of the activated sludge model. The model layout incorporates completely mixed aeration tanks and flow splitters and can be implemented using the respective standard blocks available in wastewater treatment plant simulators. A calibration guideline is proposed. Attachment and detachment rates are adjusted during calibration in order to match the measured biofilm solids in the MBBR and effluent ammonium and nitrate data. The process dynamics of the MBBR were well reproduced using ASM1 with default parameter values. The biofilm age was calculated analogous to the sludge age in an activated sludge plant and it was found to be 2.6 d in the first and 2.1 d in the second compartment of the MBBR, which is small compared to typical sludge ages in nitrifying activated sludge plants.

Xbox 360 System Architecture

This article covers the Xbox 360's high-level technical requirements, a short system overview, and details of the CPU and the GPU. The Xbox 360 contains an aggressive hardware architecture and implementation targeted at game console workloads. The core silicon implements the product designers' goal of providing game developers a hardware platform to implement their next-generation game ambitions. The core chips include the standard conceptual blocks of CPU, graphics processing unit (GPU), memory, and I/O. Each of these components and their interconnections are customized to provide a user-friendly game console product. The authors describe their architectural trade-offs and summarize the system's software programming support

Realization of Web-based simulation services

Web-based simulation is a collective term used for various applications and with different meanings: simulation as hypermedia, simulation research methodology, Web-based access to simulation programs, distributed modeling and simulation, and simulation of the WWW (E. Page, http://www.mitre.org/news/the_edge/august_98/wbs.html, 1998). Here, the term Web-based simulation relates to the first three areas, where we see great potential in bringing simulation technology to the Web: exciting applications include the development of new MIME types for technical documents or the realization of standardized service building blocks, which make agile workflow modeling possible in the technical departments of many companies. The contributions of this paper are as follows. The different realization alternatives for Web-based simulation services are explained and discussed with respect to their advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, the prototypic implementation of a Web service is presented, which allows for the analysis and execution of technical models described in the well-known Modelica modeling language. While existing simulators use proprietary or non-interactive communication concepts for Web access, our service is built on the proposed W3C Web interface stack. In particular, it integrates the professional simulation engine YANOS, wich is employed among others in the simulation software FluidSIM of FESTO. Our Web service enables the electronic mailing of technical documents, which may contain model descriptions that can be simulated in the Web browser of the recipient.

Application of an optical interferometer for measuring the surface contour of micro-components

The application of an optical interferometric system using a Mireau objective to measure the surface profile of micro-components is described. The proposed system produces a uniform monochromatic illumination over the test area and introduces an interference fringe pattern localized near the test surface. Both the interference fringes and the 2D image of the test surface can be focused by an infinity microscope system consisting of a Mireau objective and a tube lens. A piezoelectric transducer (PZT) attached to the Mireau objective can move precisely along the optical axis of the objective. This enables the implementation of phase-shifting interferometry without changing the focus of a CCD sensor as the combination of the Mireau objective and the tube lens provides a depth of focus which is deep in comparison to the phase-shifting step. Experimental results from surface profilometry of the protrusion/undercut of a polished fibre within an optical connector and of the curved surface of a micromirror demonstrate that features in the order of nanometres are measurable. Measurements on standard blocks also show that the accuracy of the proposed system is comparable to an existing commercial white-light interferometer and a stylus profilometer.

XiSystem: a XiRisc-based SoC with reconfigurable IO module

In the nanometer era, the increase in nonrecurring engineering costs is a challenge for SoCs that can be faced through a standardization process. Hardware specialization of a standard platform to a given application can be achieved by exploiting reconfigurable technology. This paper presents a XiSystem SoC, which integrates two different field-programmable devices to provide application-specific computing blocks and IOs. A XiRisc reconfigurable processor is exploited to achieve more than one order of magnitude speed-up and energy consumption reduction vis-a/spl grave/-vis a DSP-like processor, while an eFPGA is integrated in the system in order to make it flexible enough to support various IO ports and protocols. The reconfigurable IO device is also utilized for pre/post data processing and implementation of some standard computational blocks.

Paleomagnetic quantification of upper‐plate deformation during Miocene detachment faulting in the Mohave Mountains, Arizona

Paleomagnetic data from Miocene (∼20 Ma) volcanic rocks and dikes of west central Arizona reveal the tilt history of Proterozoic crystalline rocks in the hanging wall of the Chemehuevi‐Whipple Mountains detachment fault. We obtained magnetization data from dikes and flows in two structural blocks encompassing Crossman Peak and Standard Wash in the Mohave Mountains. In the Crossman block the dike swarm records two components of primary magnetization: (1) CNH, a normal polarity, high‐unblocking‐temperature or high‐coercivity component (inclination, I = 48.5°, declination, D = 6.4°), and (2) CRHm, a reversed polarity, high‐temperature or high‐coercivity component (I = −33.6°, D = 197.5°). Argon age spectra imply that the dikes have not been reheated above 300°C since their emplacement, and a baked‐contact test suggests that the magnetization is likely to be Miocene in age. CRHm deviates from the expected direction of the Miocene axial dipole field and is best explained as a result of progressive tilting about the strike of the overlying andesite flows. These data suggest that the Crossman block was tilted 60° to the southwest prior to intrusion of the vertical dike swarm, and the block continued to tilt during a magnetic field reversal to normal polarity (CNH). Miocene dikes in the Crossman block are roughly coplanar, so the younger dikes with normal polarity magnetization intruded along planes of weakness parallel to the earlier reversed polarity swarm. An alternative explanation involves CNH magnetization being acquired later during hydrothermal alteration associated with the final stages of dike emplacement. In the Standard Wash block, the primary component of magnetization is a dual‐polarity, high‐temperature or high‐coercivity component (SWHl, I = 7.2°, D = 0.7°). To produce agreement between the expected Miocene magnetic direction and the SWH component requires (1) correcting for a 56° tilt about the strike of flow bedding and (2) removing a counterclockwise vertical‐axis rotation of 20°. The two rotations restore the Standard Wash dikes to vertical, make parallel the dike layering in the Crossman and Standard Wash blocks, and align the strikes of bedding in both blocks. Geologic mapping, geochemical evidence, and paleomagnetic data are consistent with the upper plate of the Mohave Mountains having tilted in response to formation of the underlying detachment fault.

HIGH-SPEED ARCHITECTURES AND BUILDING BLOCKS FOR CLOCK AND DATA RECOVERY SYSTEMS

This paper focuses on high performance architectures and building blocks for clock and data recovery (CDR) applications. After a review of basic concepts, a parallel CDR architecture for high operation speeds and low-power dissipation is introduced, followed by discussion of linear detectors for multiple octave operation CDR systems. A frequency acquisition architecture, based on standard PLL building blocks, is then presented. Finally, multi-phase and wide-tuning-range oscillators are discussed.

Dissipation of Hydraulic Energy in Stilling Basin by Cutting Baffle Blocks

This study was undertaken to evaluate the hydraulic performance of stilling basin with unusual shapes of baffle blocks. Seven groups of baffle blocks were selected for this purpose , these blocks were cut within a different forms, three of these groups were cut with angle (15o, 30o, 45o) horizontally. Another three groups were cut with the same above angles, but vertically. The seventh group was cut with semi-cylindrical section (shown from side view). For a comparison, standard trapezoidal baffle blocks were used. Dimensional analysis technique was used to obtain the dimensionless parameters of hydraulic performance of the cutting baffle blocks and the drag force applied on these blocks. Laboratory experiments were carried out on one raw of the cutting baffle blocks for each model. The results indicated that the cutting baffle blocks are generally better than the standard blocks in dissipation of a hydraulic energy and reduction of a hydraulic jump length, but a ratio of drag force applied on cutting baffle blocks was greater than this ratio on the standard blocks. For the same flow conditions and angle of cut, the baffle blocks of vertically cutting gave a better results for energy dissipation and reduction in the length of the hydraulic jump than the baffle blocks of horizontally cutting, but the drag force applied on the baffle blocks with a vertically cutting was greater than applied on a blocks with horizontally cutting. Also, the results indicated that an agreement in the hydraulic performance between the baffle blocks which were cut at (45o) vertically and the baffle blocks of semi-cylindrical cutting. The cutting baffle blocks gives a greater value of the energy dissipation which was (80.62%) than the standard blocks and greater value of reduction in the hydraulic jump length which was(37.5%),also these blocks gives maximum increase of the drag force ratio which was (97%) greater than its value on the standard baffle blocks.

QsNetII: Defining High-Performance Network Design

QSNET/sup II/ optimizes interprocessor communication in systems built from standard server building blocks. Its short-message processing unit permits fast injection of small messages, providing ultra-low latency and scalability to thousands of nodes. Thus, in a sense, the high-performance network in a cluster computer is the computer because it largely defines achievable performance, widening the range of the applications a cluster can efficiently execute, as well as defining its scalability, fault tolerance, system software, and overall usability.

Flexible Web-Based Educational System for Teaching Computer Architecture and Organization

An important problem in teaching courses in computer architecture and organization is to find a way to help students to make a cognitive leap from the blackboard description of a computer system to its utilization as a programmable device. Computer simulators developed to tackle this problem vary in scope, target architecture, user interface, and support for distance learning. Usually, they include the processor only, lacking the whole-system perspective. The existing simulators mainly focus on the programmer's view of the machine and do not provide the designer's perspective. This paper presents an educational computer system and its Web-based simulator, designed to help teaching and learning computer architecture and organization courses. The educational computer system is designed to cover a broad spectrum of topics taught in lower division courses. It offers a unique environment that exposes students to both the programmer and the designer's perspective of the computer system. The Web-based simulator features an interactive animation of program execution and allows students to navigate through different levels of the educational computer system's hierarchy-starting from the top level with block representation down to the implementation level with standard sequential and combinational logic blocks.

Dissipation of Hydraulic Energy in Stilling Basin by Cutting Baffle Blocks

This study was undertaken to evaluate the hydraulic performance of stilling basin with unusual shapes of baffle blocks. Seven groups of baffle blocks were selected for this purpose , these blocks were cut within a different forms, three of these groups were cut with angle (15º, 30º, 45º) horizontally. Another three groups were cut with the same above angles, but vertically. The seventh group was cut with semi-cylindrical section (shown from side view). For a comparison, standard trapezoidal baffle blocks were used.Dimensional analysis technique was used to obtain the dimensionless parameters of hydraulic performance of the cutting baffle blocks and the drag force applied on these blocks. Laboratory experiments were carried out on one raw of the cutting baffle blocks for each model. The results indicated that the cutting baffle blocks are generally better than the standard blocks in dissipation of a hydraulic energy and reduction of a hydraulic jump length, but a ratio of drag force applied on cutting baffle blocks was greater than this ratio on the standard blocks. For the same flow conditions and angle of cut, the baffle blocks of vertically cutting gave a better results for energy dissipation and reduction in the length of the hydraulic jump than the baffle blocks of horizontally cutting, but the drag force applied on the baffle blocks with a vertically cutting was greater than applied on a blocks with horizontally cutting. Also, the results indicated that an agreement in the hydraulic performance between the baffle blocks which were cut at (45º) vertically and the baffle blocks of semi-cylindrical cutting. The cutting baffle blocks gives a greater value of the energy dissipation which was (80.62%) than the standard blocks and greater value of reduction in the hydraulic jump length which was(37.5%),also these blocks gives maximum increase of the drag force ratio which was (97%) greater than its value on the standard baffle blocks.