Home  About us  Contact
 

Emerging Approaches (emerging + approach)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Humanities and Social Sciences28%

Selected Abstracts

Bioinspired Design of Dynamic Materials

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 23 2009
Javeed Shaikh Mohammed
Abstract An emerging approach for design of dynamic materials involves mimicking natural systems, which are adept at changing their structure and function in response to their environment. Biological systems possess a diverse range of dynamic mechanisms, including competitive ligand,protein binding, enzyme-catalyzed remodeling, and allosteric protein conformational changes. These dynamic mechanisms are now being exploited by materials scientists and engineers to design "bioinspired" synthetic materials that undergo responsive assembly and disassembly as well as dynamic volume and shape changes. The purpose of this review is to describe recent progress in design and development of bioinspired dynamic materials, with a particular emphasis on hydrogel networks. We specifically focus on emerging approaches that use biological phenomena as an inspiration for design of materials. [source]

Sweet nationalism in bitter days: a commercial representation of Zionism

NATIONS AND NATIONALISM, Issue 3 2009
ANAT FIRST
ABSTRACT. This article identifies several theoretical approaches to the role of culture in the construction of national identity. Embedded in the presently emerging approach, which emphasises the relations between popular culture/consumerism and national identity, this study focuses on a specific consumer good manufactured in Israel in the early 2000s, the height of the second Palestinian Intifada (uprising): small sugar packets bearing portraits of the patriarchs of Zionism. The analysis of this product, employing semiotic analysis, interviews and focus groups, locates it in the five ,moments' of du Gay's ,circuit of culture' (i.e. identity, representation, production, consumption and regulation). Three main general arguments were stated, empirically examined and largely sustained: (1) Consumer goods are used not only for constructing national identity but also as a means for ,healing' it; (2) in their ,healing' capacity, representations of nationalism on consumer goods do not add new elements to representations offered by the ,high' official version of nationalism but replicate them in a simplified way; (3) while trivialising the insights and concepts that originated in ,high' culture, consumer goods expose the prejudices, stereotypes and rules of inclusion and exclusion that in ,high' culture are often hidden in a sophisticated manner. [source]

Robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic partial cecectomy

THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND COMPUTER ASSISTED SURGERY, Issue 3 2010
Madhu Ragupathi
Abstract Background Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is an emerging approach in the field of minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery. This modality utilizes a ,scarless' incision concealed within the umbilicus, and results in improved cosmesis with the potential for reduced trauma, pain and length of hospital stay. However, unique technical challenges have curbed its adaptation. Robotic-assisted technique may help overcome these limitations when applied to the single-incision approach. Methods A robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic partial cecectomy was performed using the da Vinci® robot and the GelPOINTÔ access device. Modifications of the robotic set-up were utilized to optimize the technique. The robotic instruments were crossed below the abdominal wall to minimize internal conflict and maximize range of motion. Control of the robotic arms was reassigned on the robotic console to create a more intuitive surgical approach. The robotic camera was rotated and positioned vertically to reduce external conflict and enhance visualization. Results Robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic partial cecectomy was performed in a 53 year-old male without complication or need for conversion. The procedure required 120 min with an estimated blood loss of < 50 ml. Pathology revealed a sessile tubular adenoma of the cecum. The length of hospital stay was 2 days and no complications were encountered. The patient returned with a well-healed 2.5 cm incision and no postoperative complications at 6 weeks follow-up. Conclusions With appropriate modifications, robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic surgery may be applicable as a minimally invasive modality for partial colectomy. Further studies are warranted to establish the safety, efficacy, benefits, and limits of this technique. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Scheduling dense linear algebra operations on multicore processors

CONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 1 2010
Jakub Kurzak
Abstract State-of-the-art dense linear algebra software, such as the LAPACK and ScaLAPACK libraries, suffers performance losses on multicore processors due to their inability to fully exploit thread-level parallelism. At the same time, the coarse,grain dataflow model gains popularity as a paradigm for programming multicore architectures. This work looks at implementing classic dense linear algebra workloads, the Cholesky factorization, the QR factorization and the LU factorization, using dynamic data-driven execution. Two emerging approaches to implementing coarse,grain dataflow are examined, the model of nested parallelism, represented by the Cilk framework, and the model of parallelism expressed through an arbitrary Direct Acyclic Graph, represented by the SMP Superscalar framework. Performance and coding effort are analyzed and compared against code manually parallelized at the thread level. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Bioinspired Design of Dynamic Materials

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 23 2009
Javeed Shaikh Mohammed
Abstract An emerging approach for design of dynamic materials involves mimicking natural systems, which are adept at changing their structure and function in response to their environment. Biological systems possess a diverse range of dynamic mechanisms, including competitive ligand,protein binding, enzyme-catalyzed remodeling, and allosteric protein conformational changes. These dynamic mechanisms are now being exploited by materials scientists and engineers to design "bioinspired" synthetic materials that undergo responsive assembly and disassembly as well as dynamic volume and shape changes. The purpose of this review is to describe recent progress in design and development of bioinspired dynamic materials, with a particular emphasis on hydrogel networks. We specifically focus on emerging approaches that use biological phenomena as an inspiration for design of materials. [source]

RF MEMS status and perspectives

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 12 2008
Fabio Coccetti
Abstract The key challenges for the next generation of communication architectures are related to their ability to modify their properties in order to fit with different applications and environmental conditions. Among the emerging approaches targeting these miniaturized systems called "Smart Microsystems", RF MEMS technology is considered as one of the most attractive and enabling solution. This paper will outline the main characteristics exhibited by RF MEMS technologies as well as the main technological process flow, the design and modelling methodologies that have to be implemented in order to meet the multi-physics and multi-scale challenge encountered in this field. The paper will continue with a major issue faced by RF MEMS related to reliability. Finally, the paper will finish with the presentation of innovative smart devices and systems that could be envisioned in the future. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Total Protein Methods and Their Potential Utility to Reduce the Risk of Food Protein Adulteration

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND FOOD SAFETY, Issue 4 2010
Jeffrey C. Moore
Adulteration incidents exploiting this analytical vulnerability (for example, melamine) demonstrate that these methods are no longer sufficient to protect the public health. This article explores the challenges and opportunities to move beyond total nitrogen based methods for total protein measurement. First, it explores the early history of protein measurement science, complexities of current global protein measurement activities, and ideal analytical performance characteristics for new methods. Second, it comprehensively reviews the pros and cons of current and emerging approaches for protein measurement, including their selectivity for protein, ability to detect adulteration, and practicality for routine use throughout the supply chain. It concludes that some existing highly selective methods for food protein measurement have potential for routine quality control. It also concludes that their successful implementation will require matrix-specific validation and the use of supporting reference materials. These methods may be suitable only for food ingredients that have a low degree of compositional variability and are not complex finished food products. [source]