Spent potliner treatment process optimization using a MADS algorithm

In this paper, the general problem of chemical process optimization defined by a computer simulation is formulated. It is generally a nonlinear, non-convex, non-differentiable optimization problem over a disconnected set. A brief overview of popular optimization methods from the chemical engineering literature is presented. The recent mesh adaptive direct search (MADS) algorithm is detailed. It is a direct search algorithm, so it uses only function values and does not compute or approximate derivatives. This is useful when the functions are noisy, costly or undefined at some points, or when derivatives are unavailable or unusable. In this work, the MADS algorithm is used to optimize a spent potliners (toxic wastes from aluminum production) treatment process. In comparison with the best previously known objective function value, a 37% reduction is obtained even if the model failed to return a value 43% of the time.     

PMD与模式耦合

1 概述 光是由2种方向相互垂直的偏振组成,通常称为电场和磁场(或波),它们沿光纤方向传播.对于给定长度的光纤,其中一条路径的平均应力要小于另一条路径,使光可以更快速地传播,这条路径通常被称为快光轴.快光轴与慢光轴是相互垂直的.     

Prolonged STAT1 activation related to the growth arrest of malignant lymphoma cells by interferon-alpha

Multiple biologic effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), including cell growth inhibition and antiviral protection, are initiated by tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT proteins. Although this signal pathway has been intensively investigated, the relevance of STAT signal persistence has received scant attention. Using paired isogenic lymphoma cells (Daudi), which either are sensitive or resistant to growth inhibition by IFN-alpha, we found comparable initial tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple STAT proteins; however, the phosphorylation durations and associated DNA-binding activities diverged. Phosphorylation and DNA-binding capacity of STAT1 decreased after 4 to 8 hours in resistant cells, as compared with 24 to 32 hours in sensitive cells, whereas phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT5b was briefer in both lines. Functional significance of the prolonged STAT1 signal, therefore, was explored by experimental interruption of tyrosine phosphorylation, either by premature withdrawal of the IFN-alpha or deferred addition of pharmacologically diverse antagonists: staurosporine (protein kinase inhibitor), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (growth promoter), or aurintricarboxylic acid (ligand competitor). Results indicated that an approximately 18-hour period of continued STAT1 phosphorylation was associated with growth arrest, but that antiviral protection developed earlier. These differences provide novel evidence of a temporal dimension to IFN-alpha signal specificity and show that duration of STAT1 activation may be a critical variable in malignant cell responsiveness to antiproliferative therapy.     

基于可调谐式RS-POTDR实现已安装光纤累积PMD分布的测量

本文描述了一种新的偏振敏感OTDR方法,其非常适用于对已安装的光纤链路(可包含多种不同单模光纤类型)的累积PMD进行定量分布测量.通过这种方法,可以确定PMD较高的光纤区域,并且可以在必要的情况下替换该区域光纤,从而以经济有效的方法降低链路PMD.     

Numerical simulation of oscillatory flow in melt during InSb single crystal growth by RF heating Czochralski method

Oscillatory flow present in the melt during InSb single crystal growth using an RF-heating Czochralski method has been numerically investigated by means of the finite difference method using the HSMAC algorithm. The thermal boundary conditions required for the numerical simulation model were obtained experimentally by measuring the temperature profile along the crucible of a Czochralski system by means of thermocouples mounted in the crucible. Results of numerical simulations showed that the use of a third-order upwind discretization scheme was necessary to catch the oscillatory behaviour of the fluid flow in the melt. It was shown that this oscillatory behaviour strongly depends on the crystal rotation rate. Indeed, the oscillation period increases when the crystal rotation rate is above a critical rotation rate. In order to avoid such oscillations, crystal rotation rates lower than this critical value of crystal rotation rate must be selected for the growth of high quality crystals free of striations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A self-correcting active pixel sensor using hardware and software correction

Active pixel sensor (APS) CMOS technology reduces the cost and power consumption of digital imaging applications. We present a highly reliable system for the production of high-quality images in harsh environments. The system is based on a fault-tolerant architecture that effectively combines hardware redundancy in the APS cells and software correction techniques.     

Selective alterations of extracellular brain amino acids in relation to function in experimental portal-systemic encephalopathy: results of an in vivo microdialysis study

Portal-systemic encephalopathy (PSE) is characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms progressing through stupor and coma. Previous studies in human autopsy tissue and in experimental animal models of PSE suggest that alterations in levels of brain amino acids may play a role in the pathogenesis of PSE. To assess this possibility, levels of amino acids were measured using in vivo cerebral microdialysis in frontal cortex of portacaval-shunted rats administered ammonium acetate (3.85 mmol/kg, i.p.) to precipitate severe PSE. Sham-operated rats served as controls. Portacaval shunting resulted in significant increases of levels of extracellular glutamine (threefold, p < 0.001), alanine (38%, p < 0.01), aspartate (44%, p < 0.05), phenylalanine (170%, p < 0.001), tyrosine (140%, p < 0.001), tryptophan (63%, p < 0.001), leucine (75%, p < 0.001), and serine (60%, p < 0.001). Administration of ammonium acetate to sham-operated animals led to a significant increase in extracellular glutamine and taurine content, but this response was absent in shunted rats. The lack of taurine release into extracellular fluid following ammonium acetate administration in portacaval-shunted rats could relate to the phenomenon of brain edema in these animals. Ammonium acetate administration resulted in significant increases in the extracellular concentrations of phenylalanine and tyrosine in both sham-operated and portacaval-shunted rats. Severe PSE was not accompanied by significant increases in extracellular fluid concentrations of glutamate, aspartate, GABA, tryptophan, leucine, or serine, suggesting that increased spontaneous release of these amino acids in cerebral cortex is not implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic coma.