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Selected AbstractsFire calorimetry relying on the use of the fire propagation apparatus.FIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 2 2006Part I: early learning from use in Europe Abstract The fire propagation apparatus (FPA) is the bench scale fire calorimeter that was recently described in its updated version in ASTM E 2058. The apparatus was originally developed in the USA by Tewarson and co-workers from the mid 1970s, under the name ,50 kW lab-scale flammability apparatus', and is therefore still known in Europe as the ,Tewarson apparatus'. The paper focuses on the experience achieved so far with the first modern version of the apparatus implemented in Europe (France). Part I in this series of articles reports on the main results achieved during the commissioning period of the apparatus. In a first step, preliminary experiments were carried out in order to check and calibrate different sub-equipment of the calorimeter. The results are principally presented for the load cell system and the infrared heating system which are essential pieces of sub-equipment. In a second step, a set of fire tests using methane or acetone as fuel was carried out in order to check and calibrate the overall working of the calorimeter in well-fire conditions. The performance of the calorimeter was also checked when it operates in under-ventilated fires. Relevant testing procedures and potential technical problems are discussed. A set of recommendations are derived from the early learning obtained at the INERIS fire laboratory in order to check the consistency of the results obtained from bench-scale fire tests. These recommendations are thought to be applicable to all types of bench scale fire calorimeters. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Forging Democracy at GunpointINTERNATIONAL STUDIES QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2006JEFFREY PICKERING Can liberal interventionism build liberal democracy? This manuscript examines the military interventions undertaken by the U.S., U.K., France, and the UN in the post-World War II era to see if they had a positive impact on democracy in target countries. Empirical analysis centers on multivariate time series, cross section PCSE and relogit regressions of political liberalization and democratization from 1946 to 1996. The former is operationalized with annual difference data drawn from the Polity IV data collection, whereas the latter is a binary variable denoting countries that cross a threshold commonly used to indicate the establishment of democratic institutions. An updated version of the International Military Intervention data set enumerates foreign military interventions. We find little evidence that military intervention by liberal states helps to foster democracy in target countries. Although a few states have democratized in the wake of hostile U.S. military interventions, the small number of cases involved makes it difficult to draw generalizable conclusions from the U.S. record. We find stronger evidence, however, that supportive interventions by the UN's "Blue Helmets" can help to democratize target states. [source] Neo-Classical Neo-Populism 25 Years On: Déjà Vu and Déjà Passé.JOURNAL OF AGRARIAN CHANGE, Issue 1-2 2004Towards a Critique The Griffin, Khan and Ickowitz argument in favour of redistributive land reform, as a means of eradicating rural poverty, is an updated version of a case made by Griffin 30 years ago, and is here seen as a variant of neo-classical neo-populism. The essential logic presented by GKI is considered and it is argued that the approach is defective in its lack of historical perspective and its deployment of a static approach in a dynamic context: these defects manifested in its ignoring of the processes associated with capitalist transformation. It is further argued that its logical foundation is the neo-classical construct of perfect competition, which is without historical basis; its empirical justification is a postulated inverse relationship between land productivity and size of holding, supposedly true of all places and all times, but which is swept away by the development of capitalism in agriculture; and its social specification, in failing to capture the existence of differentiated peasantries, ignores the actual class structure of the countryside. [source] Advances in powder diffraction pattern indexing: N-TREOR09JOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2009Angela Altomare Powder pattern indexing can still be a challenge, despite the great recent advances in theoretical approaches, computer speed and experimental devices. More plausible unit cells, belonging to different crystal systems, are frequently found by the indexing programs, and recognition of the correct one may not be trivial. The task is, however, of extreme importance: in case of failure a lot of effort and computing time may be wasted. The classical figures of merit for estimating the unit-cell reliability {i.e.M20 [de Wolff (1968). J. Appl. Cryst.1, 108,113] and FN [Smith & Snyder (1979). J. Appl. Cryst.12, 60,65]} sometimes fail. For this reason, a new figure of merit has been introduced in N-TREOR09, the updated version of the indexing package N-TREOR [Altomare, Giacovazzo, Guagliardi, Moliterni, Rizzi & Werner (2000). J. Appl. Cryst. 33, 1180,1186], combining the information supplied by M20 with additional parameters such as the number of unindexed lines, the degree of overlap in the pattern (the so-called number of statistically independent observations), the symmetry deriving from the automatic evaluation of the extinction group, and the agreement between the calculated and observed profiles. The use of the new parameters requires a dramatic modification of the procedures used worldwide: in the approach presented here, extinction symbol and unit-cell determination are simultaneously estimated. N-TREOR09 benefits also from an improved indexing procedure in the triclinic system and has been integrated into EXPO2009, the updated version of EXPO2004 [Altomare, Caliandro, Camalli, Cuocci, Giacovazzo, Moliterni & Rizzi (2004). J. Appl. Cryst. 37, 1025,1028]. The application of the new procedure to a large set of test structures is described. [source] The combined use of Patterson and Monte Carlo methods for the decomposition of a powder diffraction patternJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2006Angela Altomare The success of ab initio crystal structure solution by powder diffraction data is strictly related to the quality of the integrated intensity estimates. A new method that is able to improve the pattern decomposition step has been developed. It combines the inversion of a suitably modified Patterson map with the use of the Hamming codes [13,10] and [40,36] in order to explore more decomposition trials. The new approach has been introduced in EXPO2005, an updated version of EXPO2004, and successfully applied to a set of known organic and inorganic structures. [source] SmiLib v2.0: A Java-Based Tool for Rapid Combinatorial Library EnumerationMOLECULAR INFORMATICS, Issue 3 2007Andreas Schüller Abstract An updated version of the SMILIB software tool for rapid combinatorial library enumeration was developed. SmiLib v2.0 offers the possibility to construct very large combinatorial libraries using the flexible and portable SMILES format. Libraries were created at rates of approximately 8,700,000 molecules per minute. Combinatorial building blocks are attached to scaffolds by means of linkers rather than to concatenate them directly. This allows for creation of customized libraries using linkers of different sizes and chemical nature. New features are: platform independence, correct handling of stereo chemistry, flexible reaction schemes, improved usability, a unique identifier for each molecule, the option to create libraries in SD format, a conformity check for SmiLib v2.0 SMILES notation restrictions, and decreased library enumeration times. SmiLib v2.0 is available as interactive graphical user interface application and command line tool. [source] On a proposal for a generic package development processPACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009C. Bramklev Abstract Globalization pressures have now caused significant changes in the way industrial enterprises are organized and how products are developed, manufactured and brought to market. In global enterprises, the handling, transportation and storage of parts, sub-assemblies and final products demand for an efficient and effective development of the product,package-system (PPS). The objective set in this paper is to present the development of a generic package development process that facilitates the establishment of integrated product and package development and also provides a more proactive and holistic approach to the development of new and innovative packages for the global market. In an extensive review of the package development literature and through five multiple case studies within the package manufacturing industry, results on the package development process are generated and, in this paper, presented and synthesized into an updated version of the package development process. The process consists of the phases package planning, package system development, package concept design, package design, production ramp-up, package system integration and package system production ramp-up. The package development model proposed here takes its starting point in the development of the package system, thus providing the holistic perspective needed for being truly generic. Being generic in the given context assures or at least facilitates the possibility to support the development of the new and innovative package systems and package designs needed in the product manufacturing industry to enhance competitiveness. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A screening tool for vulnerability assessment of pesticide leaching to groundwater for the islands of Hawaii, USAPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 4 2007Fredrik Stenemo Abstract This paper describes an updated version of a screening tool for groundwater vulnerability assessment to evaluate pesticide leaching to groundwater, based on a revised version of the attenuation factor. The tool has been implemented in a geographical information system (GIS) covering the major islands of the state of Hawaii, USA. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture currently uses the tool in their pesticide evaluation process as a first-tier screening tool. The basic soil properties and pesticide properties necessary to compute the index, and estimates of their uncertainty, are included in the GIS. Uncertainties in soil and pesticide properties are accounted for using first-order uncertainty analysis. Classifications of pesticides as ,likely', ,uncertain' or ,unlikely' to leach are made on the basis of the uncertainty and a comparison of the revised attenuation factor with values and uncertainties of two reference chemicals. The reference chemicals represent what are considered to be a ,leachable' and a ,non-leachable' pesticide under Hawaii conditions. It is concluded that the tool is suitable for screening new and already used pesticides for the islands of Hawaii. However, the tool is associated with uncertainties that are not accounted for, so a conservative approach with respect to interpretation of the results and selection of pesticide parameters used in the tool is recommended. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Neuromuscular involvement in various types of Ehlers,Danlos syndrome,ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2009Nicol C. Voermans MD Objective Ehlers,Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility. Muscle involvement is plausible based on recently discovered interactions between muscle cells and extracellular matrix molecules; however, muscle symptoms are only sporadically reported. We designed a cross-sectional study to find out whether neuromuscular features are part of EDS. Methods Standardized questionnaires, physical examination, nerve conduction studies, electromyography, muscle ultrasound, and muscle biopsy were performed in 40 EDS patients with the vascular, classic, tenascin-X (TNX),deficient type EDS, and hypermobility type of EDS caused by TNXB haploinsufficiency. Results Muscle weakness, myalgia, and easy fatigability were reported by the majority of patients. Mild-to-moderate muscle weakness (85%) and reduction of vibration sense (60%) were common. Nerve conduction studies demonstrated axonal polyneuropathy in five patients (13%). Needle electromyography myopathic features in nine patients (26%) and a mixed neurogenic-myopathic pattern in most (60%). Muscle ultrasound showed increased echo-intensity (48%) and atrophy (50%). Mild myopathic features were seen on muscle biopsy of five patients (28%). Overall, patients with the hypermobility type EDS caused by TNXB haploinsufficiency were least affected. Interpretation Mild-to-moderate neuromuscular involvement is common in various types of EDS, with a remarkable relation between residual TNX level and degree of neuromuscular involvement, compatible with a dose,effect relation. The findings of this study should increase awareness of neuromuscular symptoms in EDS patients and improve clinical care. They also point to a role of the extracellular matrix in muscle and peripheral nerve function. This is an updated version of this article that originally published online on June 29, 2009. Ann Neurol 2009;65:687,697 [source] Nutzungskosten: DIN 18960-2008 , Leistungsfähige Grundlage für die zielorientierte Planung der LebenszykluskostenBAUTECHNIK, Issue 7 2008Udo Blecken em. Die DIN 18960 , Nutzungskosten im Hochbau , ist in überarbeiteter Form im Februar 2008 herausgegeben worden. Sie ist durch Ergänzungen zu einem vollumfänglichen Controllingkonzept (Nutzungskostenvorgabe, -ermittlung, -kontrolle und -steuerung) weiterentwickelt worden, die dem Bauherrn eine kostengesicherte Nutzungskostenplanung ermöglicht. Mit dieser Norm liegt nun eine ökonomisch und ökologisch wichtige Grundlage für den Planungsprozess vor. Im Folgenden sollen die Neuerungen der Norm 18960 beschrieben, die angrenzenden Normen und wichtigen Merkmale erläutert, das Controllingkonzept inkl. eines Berechnungsbeispiels unter Einschluss von Risikoüberlegungen dargestellt und Planungsvertragsfragen besprochen werden. User costs of buildings DIN 18960 , a performance basis for planning of life cycle costs. An updated version of the DIN 18960 , user costs of buildings , has been published in February 2008. The norm has been further developed with supplements to a comprehensive controlling concept (usage cost estimate, usage cost calculation, usage cost monitoring and usage cost management), which provides the builder with the tools to plan the usage costs in a cost-controlled manner. This norm, furthermore, provides an economically and ecologically important basis for the planning process. The new aspects of the DIN 18960 are outlined, the related norms and important features are explained, the controlling concept including a calculation example that considers risk factors is described and questions regarding planning contracts are discussed. [source] A survey of current architectures for connecting wireless mobile ad hoc networks to the InternetINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, Issue 8 2007Habib M. Ammari Abstract Connecting wired and wireless networks, and particularly mobile wireless ad hoc networks (MANETs) and the global Internet, is attractive in real-world scenarios due to its usefulness and praticality. Because of the various architectural mismatches between the Internet and MANETs with regard to their communication topology, routing protocols, and operation, it is necessary to introduce a hybrid interface capable of connecting to the Internet using Mobile IP protocol and to MANETs owing to an ad hoc routing protocol. Specifically, the approaches available in the literature have introduced updated versions of Mobile IP agents or access points at the edge of the Internet to help MANET nodes get multi-hop wireless Internet access. The main differences in the existing approaches concern the type of ad hoc routing protocol as well as the switching algorithm used by MANET nodes to change their current Mobile IP agents based on specific switching criteria. This paper surveys a variety of approaches to providing multi-hop wireless Internet access to MANET nodes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] MolProbity: all-atom structure validation for macromolecular crystallographyACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 1 2010Vincent B. Chen MolProbity is a structure-validation web service that provides broad-spectrum solidly based evaluation of model quality at both the global and local levels for both proteins and nucleic acids. It relies heavily on the power and sensitivity provided by optimized hydrogen placement and all-atom contact analysis, complemented by updated versions of covalent-geometry and torsion-angle criteria. Some of the local corrections can be performed automatically in MolProbity and all of the diagnostics are presented in chart and graphical forms that help guide manual rebuilding. X-ray crystallography provides a wealth of biologically important molecular data in the form of atomic three-dimensional structures of proteins, nucleic acids and increasingly large complexes in multiple forms and states. Advances in automation, in everything from crystallization to data collection to phasing to model building to refinement, have made solving a structure using crystallography easier than ever. However, despite these improvements, local errors that can affect biological interpretation are widespread at low resolution and even high-resolution structures nearly all contain at least a few local errors such as Ramachandran outliers, flipped branched protein side chains and incorrect sugar puckers. It is critical both for the crystallographer and for the end user that there are easy and reliable methods to diagnose and correct these sorts of errors in structures. MolProbity is the authors' contribution to helping solve this problem and this article reviews its general capabilities, reports on recent enhancements and usage, and presents evidence that the resulting improvements are now beneficially affecting the global database. [source] | ||||||||||||||||