High Speed Solid State Circuit Breaker

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Fort Monmouth, NJ, has developed and is installing two 3.3 MW high speed solid state circuit breakers at the Army's Pulse Power Center. These circuit breakers will interrupt 4160V three phase power mains in no more than 300 microseconds, two orders of magnitude faster than conventional mechanical contact type circuit breakers. These circuit breakers utilize Gate Turnoff Thyristors (GTO's) and are currently utility type devices using air cooling in an air conditioned enclosure. Future refinements include liquid cooling, either water or two phase organic coolant, and more advanced semiconductors. Each of these refinements promises a more compact, more reliable unit

Artificial Intelligence in the Medical Field: Medical Review Sentiment Analysis

In this research project, natural language processing techniques’ ability to accurately classify medical text was measured to reinforce the relevance of artificial intelligence in the medical field. Sentiment analyses (analyses to determine whether the text was positive or negative) were performed on the prescription drug reviews in an open-source dataset using four different models: lexical, a neural network, a support vector machine, and a logistic regression model. Each model’s effectiveness was gauged by its ability to correctly classify unlabeled drug reviews (i.e., a percentage representing accuracy). The machine learning models were able to accurately classify the text, while the lexical model could not reliably produce an accurate prediction. The significance of the preprocessing technique known as ‘stemming’ was also analyzed in this project as well. Stemming made a negligible difference in accuracies (\u3c1%)

Recent advances in the application of stable isotope ratio analysis in forensic chemistry

This review paper updates the previous literature in relation to the continued and developing use of stable isotope ratio analysis in samples which are relevant to forensic science. Recent advances in the analysis of drug samples, explosive materials, and samples derived from human and animal samples are discussed. The paper also aims to put the use of isotope ratio mass spectrometry into a forensic context and discuss its evidential potential

Metabolic Routing of Dietary Nutrients in Birds: Effects of Diet Quality and Macronutrient Composition Revealed Using Stable Isotopes

During fall migration many songbirds switch from consuming primarily insects to consuming mostly fruit. Fruits with more carbohydrates and less protein may be sufficient to rebuild expended fat stores, but such fruits may be inadequate to replace catabolized protein. We manipulated the concentrations and isotopic signatures of macronutrients in diets fed to birds to study the effects of diet quality on metabolic routing of dietary nutrients. We estimated that approximately 45% and 75%, respectively, of the carbon in proteinaceous tissue of birds switched to high‐ or low‐protein diets came from nonprotein dietary sources. In contrast, we estimated that approximately 100% and 20%–80%, respectively, of the nitrogen in proteinaceous tissues of birds switched to high‐ or low‐protein diets was attributable to dietary protein. Thus, the routing and assimilation of dietary carbon and nitrogen differed depending on diet composition. As a result, δ15N of tissues collected from wild animals that consume high‐quality diets may reliably indicate the dietary protein source, whereas δ13C of these same tissues is likely the product of metabolic routing of carbon from several macronutrients. These results have implications for how isotopic discrimination is best estimated and how we can study macronutrient routing in wild animals

SELECTING GRAIN for excretory big game ...

Odstrjel krupne divljači predviđen je kao mjera gospodarenja u relevantnim zakonskim i podzakonskim aktima koji reguliraju pitanje lov(stv)a. Zakon o lovstvu dozvoljava odstrel krupne divljači puškama s užlijebljenom cijevi uz upotrebu streljiva sa zrnom konstruiranim za obavljanje lova, a čija je energija, kalibar i masa primjerena snazi i otpornosti divljači. Cilj rada je prikazati mehanizam djelovanja zrna na tijelo krupne divljači odnosno razvoj konstrukcija zrna te sugerirati odabir zrna za učinkovito izlučivanje divljači. U radu su prikazane različite konstrukcije zrna koje se koriste za odstrjel divljači i njihova primjena u praksi što je uspoređeno s njihovom učinkovitosti u odnosu na deklarirana svojstva proizvođača odnosno s iskustvima drugih autora. Pri tome su testiranja zrna u balističkoj želatini davala potpuno različite rezultate u odnosu na stvaran odstrjel divljači. Monolitne konstrukcije zrna koje se zasnivaju na konstrukciji ABC zrna dale su najbolje rezultate pri odstrjelu divljači, kako u pogledu željenog brzog skončanja, tako i u pogledu minimalnog uništavanja divljačine uz zanemarivu pojavu hematoma, neovisno o vrsti divljači. Kao najvažniji zaključak navodimo da moderne konstrukcije zrna velikih brzina nisu uvijek u mogućnosti potpuno obaviti očekivani cilj tj. trenutno skončanje divljači.In relative legal and subordinate legislation acts which regulate the issue of hunting (the hunt) the kill of the big game is predicted as a measure of managing. The law on hunting allows the kill of the big game with fluted barrel rifles using as ammunition a bullet constructed for the performance of hunt, whose energy, calibre and mass are appropriate for the strength and the resistance of the game. The aim of the thesis is to show the mechanism of the effect that a bullet has on the body of the big game, that is, the development of the constructions of the bullet and to suggest the choice of the bullet for the effective discharging of the game. There are different constructions of the bullet shown in the thesis which are used for the kill of the big game as well as their application in the practice. That is compared to their efficacy in relation to the declared characteristics of the producers, that is, to the experience of other authors. In this process, the testing of the bullets in ballistic gelatine have been giving completely different results in relation to the real kill of the game. Monolithic constructions of the bullet , based on the ABC construction of the bullet, have given the best results in the kill of the game, with regard to the desired fast ending and the minimal damage of the game alike, with the negligible appearance of haematoma, regardless of the type of the game. As the main conclusion we point out that modern constructions of the high velocity bullets are not always in possibility to completely perform the expected aim, that is to say, momentary end of the game

Oxygen Isotope Analysis of Human Bone Phosphate Evidences Weaning Age in Archaeological Populations

Acknowledgements With special thanks to Jean-Jacques Hublin and the MPI-EVA; to Annabell Reiner (MPI-EVA) and Bernd Steinhilber (Universitat Tubingen) for technical support;and to the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst for financial support to KB during this project (ref: A0970923). This research was funded by the Max Planck Society. TT was financed by the DFG Emmy Noether Program and acknowledges funding by the grant TU 148/2-1 for the Emmy Noether Group Bone Geochemistry. Thanks also tothe University of Aberdeen for support during the preparation of this manuscript.Peer reviewedPostprin

Einfluß der Gülledüngung auf Mikronährstoffgehalte von Boden und Pflanze

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Anodisation of Aluminium Alloys by Micro-Capillary Technique as a Tool for Reliable, Cost-Efficient, and Quick Process Parameter Determination

Anodisation is essential for improving surface properties of aluminium alloys and composites regarding wear and corrosion behaviour. Optimisation of the anodising process depends on microstructural constituents contained in aluminium alloys and represents a key task, consisting of the control of process parameters and electrolyte formulation. We applied the micro-capillary technique known from corrosion studies and modified it to form anodic aluminium oxide films on high-strength aluminium alloys in comparison to pure aluminium in sulphuric acid. A glass capillary with an opening of 800 μm in diameter was utilized. Corresponding electrochemical measurements during potentiodynamic and potentiostatic anodisation revealed anodic current responses similar to conventional anodisation. The measurement of film thickness was adapted to the thin anodised spots using ellipsometry and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Cross sections prepared by focused ion beam milling confirm the thickness results and show the behaviour of intermetallic phases depending on the anodising potential. Consequently, micro-capillary anodising proved to be an effective tool for developing appropriate anodisation conditions for aluminium alloys and composites because it allows quick variation of electrolyte composition by applying low electrolyte volumes and rapid film formation due to short process durations at small areas and more flexible variation of process parameters due to the used set-up

Stable isotope ecology of Cape dune mole-rats (Bathyergus suillus) from Elandsfontein, South Africa: implications for C4 vegetation and hominin paleobiology in the Cape Floral Region

The archaeological and paleontological records from the west coast of South Africa have potential to provide insights into ecosystem dynamics in the region during the mid Pleistocene. Although the fossil record suggests an ecosystem quite different than that of the region today, we understand little about the ecological factors that contributed to this disparity. The site of Elandsfontein (EFT) dates to between 1.0 and 0.6 million years ago (Ma), preserves in situ lithic and faunal materials found in direct association with each other, and provides the rare opportunity to examine the relationship between hominin behavioural variability and landscape heterogeneity in a winter rainfall ecosystem. In this study, we examine the stable carbon isotopic composition of a large sample (n = 81) of Cape dune mole-rats (Bathyergus suillus) and contemporaneous large mammals (> 6 kg; n = 194) from EFT. We find that δ13C values of B. suillus are significantly different to those of contemporaneous large mammals from EFT indicating a significant presence of plants utilizing the C4 photosynthetic pathway during the mid-Pleistocene, in contrast to present C3 dominated ecosystems along the west coast of South Africa. Additionally, we find that artifact density at EFT localities is positively correlated with δ13C values in B. suillus enamel suggesting that evidence of more intense hominin occupation may be associated with the presence of more C4 vegetation. Lastly, we hypothesize that this unique distribution of vegetation 1) provided abundant resources for both hominin and non-hominin taxa and 2) may have concentrated hominin and animal behavior in certain places on the ancient landscape

Long-term results of postoperative and definitive (chemo)radiotherapy in sinonasal carcinoma. Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 score as a predictor of survival

Background: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of curative radiotherapy in patients with sinonasal carcinoma and to identify prognostic factors influencing treatment outcomes. Materials and methods: The authors conducted a retrospective study of 61 consecutive patients treated with postoperative or definitive radiotherapy from 2002 to 2018 (median age 59 years, current/former smokers 71%, maxillary sinus 67%, nasal cavity 26%). The majority of patients were diagnosed with locally advanced disease (85% clinical stage ³ III). Regional cervical metastases were initially diagnosed in 23% of patients. The most common histology was squamous cell carcinoma (61%). Radiation therapy was preceded by radical surgery in 64% of patients. 29 patients received chemotherapy (48%). Results: The median follow-up was 53 months. The median total dose of radiotherapy achieved was 70 Gy. The 5- and 10-year locoregional control, distant control, overall survival, and disease-free survival were 74% and 64%, 90% and 90%, 51% and 35%, and 38% and 25%, respectively. Severe acute toxicity occurred in 36%, severe late toxicity in 23% of patients. Severe unilateral visual impairment occurred in 6 patients, temporal lobe necrosis in 1 patient, and osteoradionecrosis requiring surgery in 2 patients. Conclusion: The results of the study demonstrated the high effectiveness of curative treatment in patients with sinonasal carcinoma with long-term locoregional and distant control. The multivariate analysis indicated that N-staging, age, comorbidity score [as assessed by Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 (ACE-27)] and initial response to treatment were the strongest prognostic factors