Search

Dissolved black carbon (DBC) includes the water-soluble component of black carbon and/or its degradation products. It is a hydrophobic organic compound due to its thick cyclic aromatic structure and can therefore be present as particulate DBC (PDBC) on suspended particulate matter or particulate organic matter. PDBC is not equivalent to particulate black carbon (PBC) and is thus often overlooked when researchers measure PBC in particulate matter using current conventional methods. Consequently, the amount of DBC in nature is likely underestimated in many studies and the reliability of current findings on the geochemical behavior of DBC is subject to challenge. In this study, we attempted to draw the solid-liquid partition coefficient (Kd, PDBC/DBC) based on detailed data on PBC, DBC, particulate organic carbon, total suspended solids, dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface waters of the Bohai Sea. The obtained Kd was in the range of 0.018–0.072. Accordingly, the concentrations of PDBC were 1.637–6.449 µg C L−1. The estimated inventory of PDBC on suspended particulate matter in the Bohai Sea was 2.049–8.194 Gg, which was lower than that of PBC (15.16 Gg)but of the same order of magnitude. These results indicate that PDBC is an important form of DBC in the Bohai Sea. Quantitative results of DBC fluxes between the dissolved and particulate phases will benefit our understanding of DBC transport and fates in the ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article scrutinizes the Dutch healthcare market system to provide empirical grounding to the debates around the extent to which rationally constructed markets can develop as originally planned. Focusing on one specific pricing device, we document how the perceived economic 'rationalities' embedded in its design are challenged by the unforeseen and unanticipated 'irrationalities' of daily practices. We trace how healthcare professionals developed informal ways to adapt to the rules and expectations embedded in that device, resulting in forms of 'counter performativity' that threaten the quality and accessibility of Dutch healthcare. The main theoretical contribution of the article is to bridge the gap between 'Actor Network Theory-based economic sociology' and its emphasis on (counter-) performativity and the agency of devices with the older European continental inflections building on Weber, Durkheim and Bourdieu, by drawing attention to the distinct epistemologies of different professions, using insights from James Scott and the sociology of the professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face recognition is an emerging technology that divulges various applications in diverse fields like medical image analysis, surveillance, personal identification, and security related cases. In order to effectively recognize the images from the known data sets, there are a number of face recognition algorithms which are in practice. However, a few problems are encountered in effective recognition with a satisfied parameter. Even though there are various algorithms like Local Binary pattern(LBP), Directional Binary Code(DBC), Multi Support Vector Machine(Multi- SVM), and Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)which are being used for face recognition, still the face recognition is not achieved satisfactorily especially for the large databases as the images are affected due to poor lighting and also owing to occlusion occurring in the stagnant pictures. Hence, a new approach called Hybrid Robust Point Set Matching Convolutional Neural Network(HRPSM_CNN) is proposed to effectively recognize the faces from the data sets over the unconstrained situations. This proposed method shows enhanced receiver operating characteristics when compared to the traditional algorithms. This HRPSM_CNN provides 97 % of accuracy rate for ORL and AR database and 96 % for LFW face database which are significantly higher than the existing traditional algorithms. The proposed algorithm is implemented in visually impaired assistive device and the results show better recognition under difficult situations like various lighting and weather conditions.

This paper explores ship dynamics through numerical investigation using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). To enhance the performance of SPH simulations, we implement the Dummy Particle Condition (DPC) floating-fluid interaction scheme in our numerical model, substituting the original Dynamic Boundary Condition (DBC). The accuracy of the updated model is validated by conducting a series of two-dimensional (2D) benchmark tests. Subsequently, based on both DBC and DPC, we simulate three-dimensional (3D) ship motion in a series of regular waves, including low and high waves, and compare the simulation results with model test data. It is demonstrated that, compared with the original DBC, the DPC floating-fluid interaction scheme effectively enhances SPH simulation performance in terms of ship dynamics for all wave conditions. Then, the correlation between simulation accuracy, wave height, and particle size in SPH is quantitatively discussed, and a clear relationship is observed for DPC results. • DPC is implemented in the SPH model to solve the unphysical gap problem caused by DBC. • The enhancements due to DPC is validated by the 2D benchmark tests. • 3D ship simulations show DPC better matches test data and is more robust. • Compared to low wave conditions, both DPC and DBC models perform better under high nonlinear wave conditions. • DPC shows a clear error relation to wave height/particle size ratio concerning ship dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To exploit the potential of wide-bandgap semiconductors in high-frequency applications, innovative packaging designs are developed to minimize the parasitic inductance of power modules. This study presents an integrated power module with a hybrid PCB/DBC structure, which uses top-side cooling prepackaged GaN enhancement-mode high-electron-mobility transistors. The module achieves a remarkably low parasitic inductance of 2.65 nH. However, there is relatively scarce research on the reliability of this heterostructure, particularly its sensitivity to thermomechanical stress due to the coefficients of thermal expansion mismatch among material interfaces. In this work, the thermal cycling characteristics of the integrated power module are comprehensively investigated. Electrical and thermal parameters were periodically and separately measured offline on a simplified package to monitor the health conditions and decouple possible synergy and competition effects among the failure modes from all packaging components. A thorough failure analysis was conducted using nondestructive visual inspections and scanning acoustic microscopy, complemented by destructive cross-sectional examination and scanning electron microscopy. The findings identified the delamination of the DBC upper copper layer, which exhibited a conchoidal fracture interface, as the primary factor that contributed to the failure of the power module with increased thermal resistance. Furthermore, the study dissected its initiation and propagation mechanisms. This investigation provides valuable insights for the development of more reliable low-inductance power module designs. • Evaluate one heterogeneous structural low-inductance GaN eHEMT power module. • Monitor the module degradation by isolated electrical and thermal parameters. • The GaN eHEMT power module failed in increased packaging thermal resistance in TCTs. • Previously overlooked DBC conchoidal delamination leading to failure was revealed. • The module's cooling path layout causes its thermal resistance degradation in stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Afwikkeling Personenschade is the property of Boom uitgevers Den Haag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Silicone gel and direct bonded copper (DBC) as the key components of high voltage power devices are widely used in the insulation packaging of high voltage power devices, respectively. With the increase of the voltage level, the insulation problem between silicone gel and DBC interface limits the development of high voltage power devices under positive square wave voltage. In this paper, an experimental platform under this voltage is established. The surface discharge characteristics of silicone gel and DBC interface are investigated. In order to remove the displacement current interference on the discharge current generated at the rising and falling stage of positive repetitive square voltage, high frequency discharge current and high-frequency magnetic field measured by antennas are simultaneously measured, and the discharge current pulse are extracted based on the one-to-one relationship between high frequency discharge current and high-frequency magnetic field. Furthermore, the specific characteristics of the forward and backward discharge current pulses of interface between silicone gel and DBC, such as amplitude, discharge number and partial discharge repetition rate, under different voltage amplitudes, frequencies and duty cycles are extracted and analyzed. Besides, the influences of frequency and duty cycle of the positive repetitive squarevoltage on the discharge initiation voltages are investigated. Finally, the mechanism of surface discharge between silicone gel and DBC under positive repetitive square wave voltage has been explained.

Costs within healthcare are rising. Awareness of actual costs (instead of mean DBC prices) is essential to reduce healthcare costs. We prospectively registered data concerning procedure time, materials, present personnel, admission and follow-up were in 72 ureterorenoscopy (URS) procedures. The mean total costs of a URS-procedure were € 2,819. Within these costs the largest cost driver existed of surgical costs (€ 2,075; 67.0%), followed by costs for admission (€ 514; 22.8%) and follow-up costs (€ 230; 10.2%). Eight patients underwent a procedure where the stone passed spontaneously previous to the operation and had a dated CT-scan (> 1 month old). The costs of these procedures could have been saved by performing an additional pre-operative CT-scan. This would save € 62 per procedure. The actual costs of a URS procedure in this cohort were € 2,819 in which surgical costs (€ 2,075) was the largest cost item. Ensuring that recent imaging is available during the procedure could spare unnecessary procedures and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face recognition is an emerging technology that divulges various applications in diverse fields like medical image analysis, surveillance, personal identification, and security related cases. In order to effectively recognize the images from the known data sets, there are a number of face recognition algorithms which are in practice. However, a few problems are encountered in effective recognition with a satisfied parameter. Even though there are various algorithms like Local Binary pattern(LBP), Directional Binary Code(DBC), Multi Support Vector Machine(Multi- SVM), and Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)which are being used for face recognition, still the face recognition is not achieved satisfactorily especially for the large databases as the images are affected due to poor lighting and also owing to occlusion occurring in the stagnant pictures. Hence, a new approach called Hybrid Robust Point Set Matching Convolutional Neural Network(HRPSM_CNN) is proposed to effectively recognize the faces from the data sets over the unconstrained situations. This proposed method shows enhanced receiver operating characteristics when compared to the traditional algorithms. This HRPSM_CNN provides 97 % of accuracy rate for ORL and AR database and 96 % for LFW face database which are significantly higher than the existing traditional algorithms. The proposed algorithm is implemented in visually impaired assistive device and the results show better recognition under difficult situations like various lighting and weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic boundary condition (DBC) has been widely used in SPH method. However, in certain situations, it was found that a few fluid particles could break through the boundary or were not reflected specularly. Of course, these phenomena are unphysical. To improve the performance of DBC, an improved dynamic boundary condition (IDBC) was presented in this paper. To prevent fluid particles from breaking through the boundary, the repulsive force of boundary particles was enhanced by expanding the equation of state into a higher order. To deal with the asymmetry of DBC, a rectangular support domain attached to boundary particles and a corresponding correction factor are proposed. The results of three test cases showed that the performance of IDBC was satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2005 is het zorgstelsel ingijpend veranderd: men kreeg de beschikking over productie-informatie in de vorm van Diagnose-Behandel-Combinaties (DBC's), de zorgverzekeringswet werd vernieuwd waardoor verzekerden meer vrijheid van keuze kregen en er werd een begin gemaakt met het stelsel van gereguleerde marktwerking. In de jaren sinds 2005 zijn er verbeteringen in het stelsel aangebracht en hebben de marktpartijen in de zorg vooral ervaring opgedaan. In dit themanummer evalueren we de introductie van gereguleerde marktwerking, krijgen we een beeld van de ervaringen tot nu toe en kijken we vooruit naar toekomstige veranderingen in het financieel management van ziekenhuizen. Dit artikel introduceert het thema en geeft een overzicht van de verschillende artikelen.

Fractal Dimension (FD) estimation in digital image analysis has received much attention due to its dimensional significance and therefore has become an active area of research over the year. The earlier FD-based techniques often followed traditional box-counting and its different variation of differential box-counting (DBC) paradigms, in which the proper choice of box count has remained a major concern. However, most of the state-of-the-art DBC variants suffer from considerable limitations like over-counting (OC), under-counting (UC), and limited their application only to square-shaped images, and it is still a major research problem! In this backdrop, the current investigation proposes a generalized box-counting (graylevel invariant DBC); and compares it with other state-of-the-art techniques. The proposed model is evaluated on five benchmark texture datasets (which include real and generated synthetic images) and obtained better results than the existing methods and achieved all desired outcomes by eliminating both OC and UC problems. This algorithm works for any arbitrarily sized (both squared and rectangular) images. It gives a higher rate of accuracy in terms of less fitting error in detecting exact surface roughness from given datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis is a polygenic disease of unknown etiology, occurs worldwide in both developed and underdeveloped countries and involves all races. The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between hematological parameters (DBC and ESR) and biomarkers of inflammation (CRP) in patients with RA predisposing gene variants HLA-DRB1*04orHLA-DRB1*03. This study analyzed the results of hematological and biochemical parameters of 33 patients diagnosed with RA, carriers ofgene variants of HLA-DRB1*04 or HLA-DRB1*03, and 33 subjects of control group non-carriers for HLA-DRB1*04 or HLA-DRB1*03. All hematological parameters (DBC) were analyzed on a Beckman Coulter DxH 800 hematology counter. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was expressed in mm/h. The CRP biochemical test was performed on a Cobas c311 automatic analyzer. In groupof RA patients carriers of HLA-DRB1*04orHLA-DRB1*03 gene variants, the values of HGB and HCTwere significantlylower(p < 0.05) while the values of RDW, RDW-SD, MO, BA, MO#, BA#, ESR and CRPwere statistically increased(p < 0.05) from the control group without these variants.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a polygenic disease of unknown etiology, occurs worldwide in both developed and underdeveloped countries and involves all races. The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between hematological parameters (DBC and ESR) and biomarkers of inflammation (CRP) in patients with RA predisposing gene variants HLA-DRB1*04orHLADRB1* 03. This study analyzed the results of hematological and biochemical parameters of 33 patients diagnosed with RA, carriers ofgene variants of HLADRB1* 04 or HLA-DRB1*03, and 33 subjects of control group non-carriers for HLA-DRB1*04 or HLA-DRB1*03. All hematological parameters (DBC) were analyzed on a Beckman Coulter DxH 800 hematology counter. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was expressed in mm/h. The CRP biochemical test was performed on a Cobas c311 automatic analyzer. In groupof RA patients carriers of HLA-DRB1*04orHLA-DRB1*03 gene variants, the values of HGB and HCTwere significantlylower(p < 0.05) while the values of RDW, RDW-SD, MO, BA, MO#, BA#, ESR and CRPwere statistically increased(p < 0.05) from the control group without these variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray tomography was used to monitor damage evolution in nano-silver sintered joints during thermal cycling. Samples consisted of a silicon die joined to a direct bond copper substrate by sintering nano-silver paste. The amount of observable damage was significantly affected by the amount of allowable warping during the thermal cycling tests. By fully constraining the sample from flexing during thermal cycling, all observable damage was eliminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their all-weather, all-time and penetration characteristics, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are frequently used to monitor ground targets. As a result, environmental changes via natural events or human activities can be observed by applying a change detection technique. Theoretically, SAR signals can be characterized as chaotic phenomena since the scattering of signals within a resolution cell can be summed coherently. Accordingly, an SAR signal can be represented by a spatial chaotic model (SCM) and characterized by its fractal dimension. In this study, two approaches for estimating fractal dimensions are conducted, which are estimated by the differential box-counting (DBC) and improved fractal dimension methods in the z-direction. Based on the spatial chaotic model, a simplified SAR image change detection procedure is proposed. This method first calculates the differences in fractal dimensions among multitemporal SAR images to detect the changes in building and grass-recovery areas. Both the constant false alarm rate (CFAR) and support vector machine (SVM) are applied to classify the changed and unchanged areas, respectively. The experimental results reveal that both the DBC and improved fractal dimension methods are similar for detecting changes in building areas. However, regarding the changes in grass recovery areas, the improved fractal dimension method outperforms the DBC method. The results also show that the SVM performs better than the CFAR for both building and grass areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractal dimension (FD) estimation has become most popular in the field of image analysis and applications; especially estimating the roughness and smoothness of complex objects. In this present investigation, we are considering three most popular methods in the controlled images acquisition experimental setup for eight colored fabrics of the same texture, material property, and illumination. The concept of previous work and the results obtained by this ground truth experiment were discussed to indicate whether FD might be a worth useful metric for the study of color images with self-similarity, such as textures! Interestingly, we found ambiguous FD results here and tried to explain such phenomenon in relation to the development of CIE-based human perception model as texture perception are well associated with the viewing parameters and observer that perceives the image in terms of spatial distribution of color intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers play an important role in the transport of organic carbon from terrestrial to marine environments. A significant portion of this material is black carbon (BC), a residue of incomplete biomass and fossil fuel combustion. BC is mobilized in fluvial systems as both particulate BC (PBC) and dissolved BC (DBC), and the export of BC to coastal environments may have significant implications for carbon cycling in marine environments. However, while little is known regarding the potential connectivity between riverine export of PBC and DBC or the potential importance of such a relationship in constraining future BC budgets, current knowledge suggests that fluvial export of PBC and DBC are decoupled in small fire‐impacted watersheds. This study aims to further address this subject on a larger watershed scale. For this study, 13 monthly samples were collected (September 2015 to September 2016) near the mouth of the Altamaha River, Georgia. PBC and DBC were characterized using the benzenze polycarboxylic acid method. Seasonal hydrology and regional shifts in storm events play an important role for both PBC and DBC export during high flow months. The DBC concentrations were comparable among wet and dry seasons, whereas evidence of seasonal salt water intrusions suggests an additional estuarine contribution of PBC at the sampling location. The DBC and PBC fluxes were generally coupled, although this pattern was disrupted during initial storm pulses. While this is the first report of potential coupling between DBC and PBC export, environmental drivers controlling this behavior between DBC and PBC remain to be constrained. Plain Language Summary: Rivers play a critical role in the annual transport of organic material from terrestrial to marine environments. A significant portion of this material is a residue formed from incomplete combustion of plants and fossil fuels. Such pyrogenic materials can be mobilized from soils to rivers and transported in both particulate and dissolved forms. Their export to coastal environments may have significant implications for carbon cycling in marine environments. Here we study a subtropical watershed covering most of the U.S. state of Georgia, to investigate the effect of climate—particularly precipitation—on the export and linkages between particulate and dissolved combustion products. Key Points: Hydrological controls on BC mobilization may be more complex than previously suggestedSeasonal dynamics suggests that PBC and DBC may be coupled during baseflow conditions but not during high flowPBC export was also linked to seasonal hydrology, but sources appeared to be highly variable throughout the sampling period [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fractal Dimension (FD) of digital image represents the roughness in terms of real number with self similarity property in order to correlate with human perception of surface roughness. FD has broadly adopted in various kinds of applications in different field of computer graphics and image processing such as texture analysis, classification, segmentation and many more that establish in various literatures. For estimating FD there are several techniques were presented in gray scale domain, out of which differential box counting (DBC) is repeatedly used algorithm, but in case of color domain there are few and countable research has been done because the natural color images exhibits a non trivial and self-similar and scale invariance feature. This article presents a new color FD estimation algorithm by extending original DBC algorithm by implementing maximum color Euclidian distance from each non overlapping box block of RGB components. All the experimental work has been made on one set of standard brodatz color texture images and one set of known fractal dimension smooth color images used for showing feasibility of the proposed technique. The experimental result proved that the proposed algorithm efficiently captures the surface roughness of RGB color images. The computational time of this proposed method yields quit less than that of other existing algorithms. This is more reliable and precise method for color images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractal Dimension (FD) is a very useful feature in fractal geometry for analysis of digital images. For estimating FD, several existing algorithms are, (i) box-counting, (ii) probability box-counting, (iii) differential box-counting (DBC), (iv) relative DBC (RDBC), and (v) improved DBC (IDBC) for gray-scale images. For color images the existing methods are, (i) extended version of probability box-counting method, (ii) box merging method and (iii) improved version of IDBC method. However, the accuracy of an algorithm for estimation of FD in RGB color domain is still a challenging issue! In this article, we have attempted to estimate FD of RGB color images by extending the DBC algorithm into a color domain. To validate this new approach, we have generated gradient images with known FD along with experimentally controlled images. The experimental work were carried out by three sets of color images; one set of color brodatz database, one set of smooth color images from SGA color checker, and one set of generated gradient images. The experimental results are found to be more precise and time saving in case of the proposed method. From the t -test results, it was found to be more efficient to compute the FDs that distinguish the surface roughness of RGB color images as compared to existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractal dimension (FD) is an important feature of fractal geometry to identify surface roughness of digital images. In this regard many methods were presented, among which differential box counting (DBC) method is a commonly used technique to estimate fractal dimension (surface roughness) of digital images. This paper presents modified version of differential box counting technique that addresses three issues found in original DBC; such as minimum roughness variation, computational error and similar fractal dimension (FD) evaluated either by incrementing or decrementing constant value to each intensity points. Based upon these three issues, our proposed method is better than the existing methods like DBC, relative DBC (RDBC) and improved DBC (IDBC). The improved version is achieved by subtracting the minimum intensity value from average intensity value on each grid. The subtraction of the minimum gray level of the block rather than zero gray level is used as a correction factor for accurate estimation of fractal dimension. The proposed methodology was demonstrated on real brodatz texture data base images, smooth images and synthetic texture like images. It shows that our improved method covers all objects with wider range of fractal dimension as compared to the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Oceanography is the property of Instituto Oceanografico da Universidade de Sao Paulo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, a posteriori error estimates for the generalized Schwarz method (GSM) for evolutionary Hamilton-Jacobi-Belmann equation with linear source terms related to management of energy production with mixed boundary condition (MBC) are established, using a theta scheme with a Galerkin spatial approximation and the techniques of the residual a posteriori error analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

در سال‌های اخیر ‌ عوامل مؤثر بر فرایند استخراج، بیشتر در مقیاس آزمایشگاهی و در دکانتور بررسی شده و تحقیقات کمی در زمینه تأثیر شرایط عملیاتی در یک فرایند پیوسته گزارش شده است. در این پژوهش استخراج طلا از محلول لیچ کلریدی لجن مس آندی سرچشمه با حلال دی بوتیل کربیتول (DBC) و در یک دستگاه میکسر ستلر آزمایشگاهی انجام شد و تأثیر پارامترهای مختلفی مانند دور همزن، دبی فاز آبی و آلی، غلظت طلا، غلظت استخراج‌کننده و هلداپ بر استخراج طلا در فرایند پیوسته برسی شده است. نتایج نشان داد که با افزایش دور همزن تا rpm600 بازیابی طلا تا میزان 80 درصد افزایش می‌یابد. همچنین افزایش هلداپ فاز آلی تا نقطه بحرانی (375/0=ø) اثر مثبت بر فرایند داشته و با افزایش بیش از حد آن سیستم دچار اختلال می‌شود. سایر پارامترها مانند افزایش دبی حجمی فاز آبی به دلیل کاهش زمان ماند، میزان استخراج را 35% کاهش داد و غلظت رقیق‌کننده نیز به سبب کاهش سطح تماس فازها، به میزان قابل توجهی (5/4 برابر) تأثیر منفی بر استخراج داشته است. تأثیر غلظت یون طلا در خوراک آبی بر قطر ساتر قطرات نیز بررسی شد.

Numerous studies have reported a high prevalence of challenging behavior among students with intellectual disabilities (ID). They discuss different putative risk markers as well as their influence on the occurrence of challenging behavior. The study investigates the prevalence of challenging behavior and evaluates in terms of a replication study well-known putative risk markers among a representative sample of students with ID (N=1629) in Bavaria, one of the largest regions in Germany. The research is based on a modified version of the Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC). Findings indicate a prevalence rate of 52% for challenging behavior. The following putative risk markers are associated with challenging behavior: intense need for care, male gender, lack of communication skills, and residential setting. These risk markers explain 8.4% of the variance concerning challenging behavior. These results reveal that challenging behavior either is to a large extent determined by situations and interactions between individuals and environment and cannot be explained by the measured individual and social risk markers alone, or it is determined by further risk markers that were not measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Williams Syndrome (WS) is a microdeletion syndrome (chromosome 7q11.23) characterized by typical facial features, cardiovascular disease, behavioural symptoms, and mild intellectual disability (ID). The aim of this study was to assess the rates of incontinence and psychological problems in persons with WS. Methods 231 individuals with WS were recruited through the German parent support group (52.0% male, mean age 19.4 years). Faecal incontinence (FI) was diagnosed from the age of 4 years and nocturnal enuresis (NE) and daytime urinary incontinence (DUI) of 5 years onwards. The Parental Questionnaire: Enuresis/Urinary Incontinence, the International-Consultation-on-Incontinence-Questionnaire-Pediatric LUTS (ICIQ-CLUTS), as well as the Developmental Behavior Checklist for parents (DBC-P) or for adults (DBC-A) were filled out by parents or caregivers. Results 17.8% of the sample had NE, 5.9% DUI and 7.6% FI. NE was present in 44.9% of children (4-12 years), 13.5% of teens (13-17y), 3.3% of young adults (18-30y) and in 3.6% of adults (> 30y). DUI (and FI) decreased from 17.9% (21.4%) in children to 0% in adults. 3.5% of the sample had an ICIQ-CLUTS score in the clinical range. 30.5% of children and 22.1% of adults had a clinical DBC score. Children and teens with clinically relevant DBC-P-scores had significantly higher DUI rates. Conclusions Children with WS have high rates of incontinence and LUTS, which decrease with age. Most adults are continent. NE is the most common subtype. Except for DUI in children, incontinence is not associated with behavioural problems. Screening, assessment and treatment of incontinence in individuals with WS is recommended. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:1000-1005, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some applications or environments, power semiconductor devices are exposed to hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S). The degradation mechanisms triggered under these circumstances have been reported already, but the degradation dynamics, the acceleration factors and the impact on the service life of the affected devices are not yet fully understood. There are no standard test methods available for power semiconductor devices and therefore, a test campaign with highly corrosive climatic conditions was started to investigate the degradation mechanisms under high voltage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a high-throughput screening tester for DBC-module of IGBT. The tester realizes a new screening test with current distribution in addition to a conventional switching test. It consists of a power circuit, a replaceable test head, sensor array module and digitizer with LabVIEW program. Therefore, all kinds of DBC-modules can be screened by switching the test head. The tester acquires magnetic field signals and displays GO/NOGO judgment automatically after digital calibration and signal processing in 10 s. It is expected to be applied for screening in a production line and analysis in order to prevent the failure of power modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design by contract (DbC) is a software development methodology that focuses on clearly defining the interfaces between components to produce better quality object-oriented software. Though there exists ample support for DbC for sequential programs, applying DbC to concurrent programs presents several challenges. Using Java as the target programming language, we tackle such challenges by augmenting the Java Modelling Language (JML) and modifying the JML compiler (jmlc) to generate runtime assertion checking code to support DbC in concurrent programs. We applied our solution in a carefully designed case study on a highly concurrent industrial software system from the telecommunications domain to assess the effectiveness of contracts as test oracles in detecting and diagnosing functional faults in concurrent software. Based on these results, clear and objective requirements are defined for contracts to be effective test oracles for concurrent programs whilst balancing the effort to design them. Effort is measured indirectly through the contract complexity measure (CCM), a measure we define. Main results include that contracts of a realistic level of completeness and complexity can detect around 76 percent of faults and reduce the diagnosis effort for such faults tenfold. We, therefore, show that DbC can be applied to concurrent software and can be a valuable tool to improve the economics of software engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to (1) determine preliminary validity of the Developmental Behaviour Checklist-Hyperactivity Index (DBC-HI) as a screening measure of combined-type ADHD in autism and ADHD, and (2) compare emotional-behavioural disturbance using the DBC in autism, ADHD and autism + ADHD. Forty-nine age- and PIQ-matched young people [6-18 years; 12 autism, 13 ADHD, 12 autism + ADHD, 12 typically developing] were recruited. Parents completed the Conners-Revised Rating Scale and DBC. The DBC-HI displayed strong internal consistency and good external validity, reliably measuring combined-type ADHD. The DBC-HI distinguished autism from autism + ADHD with fair sensitivity and specificity. Individuals with autism + ADHD exhibited a more severe profile of emotional-behavioural disturbance than autism or ADHD alone. The DBC may be a useful 'all-in-one' screening tool to (1) identify comorbidity and (2) determine the severity of emotional-behavioural disturbance in autism and/or ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper deals with a method for low cost power electronic substratescreation, which are used for power electronic devices. Direct bond copper (DBC) technology is suitable for creating substrates with excellent thermal and electrical conductivity and good mechanical properties. Furthermore, DBC allows to create copper layers with the thickness of hundreds micrometers in one processing step. In this work, the muffle furnace is used for bonding copper to ceramic. Temperature profile, oxygen concentration during the bonding process and final treatment is described. The last part summarizes the results and presents advantages of this method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hooghly-Matla estuarine system receives a major load of carbon from adjacent mangrove forest in the form of litterfall throughout the year. Keeping in view, the crucial role of carbon, a seven compartment model has been proposed to study the dynamics of carbon in this estuarine system. Different forms of carbon present in soil (as soil organic carbon (SOC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC)) and in water (as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved carbon dioxide (DCO2), dissolved bicarbonate (DBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC)) are taken as state variables. Litter biomass, dissolved oxygen, primary productivity, community respiration, temperature of water, pH of water and soil, air–water exchange of carbon dioxide and conversion rates among different forms of carbon are considered as graph time functions. The data used in the present model are collected for over two years from our own field works and experiments. Other sensitive rate parameters which are not possible to collect from survey or experiment, calibrated following standard procedure. Sensitivity analysis is performed along with calibration. Model simulation results are validated with observed data. Results show seasonal variations of litterfall and which is the main source of SOC pool and ultimately transported to the estuary. Other than litterfall, the death of organisms in soil and water enriches the SOC and POC respectively. pH of water is governing factor and depending on this factor, DIC is converted to DCO2 and DBC, which are taken up by phytoplankton during photosynthesis. Mineralization rate of SOC to SIC and uptake rate of DCO2 and DBC are the sensitive parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An experimental investigation was carried out in order to analyze the drop size distributions of liquid-liquid dispersion in a horizontal mixer--settler. Two aqueous chemical systems were studied: synthetic gold solution and gold solution prepared from the leaching of copper anode slimes. The dependency of the drop size distributions on impeller speed, 335-600 rpm, and phase fraction, 0.167-0.54, were studied for gold chloride--DBC system. The Sauter mean diameter, D32, was correlated for both systems in the frame of classical Hinze--Kolmogorov theory. The results showed that, for each volume fraction in the studied range, D32 is decreasing as a power function of Weber number with an exponent equal to -0.73 and -0.65 for leach and synthetic solution, respectively. This corroborates that the mentioned theory may not be the most adequate to correlate drop size diameters, particularly when reaction occurs in the system. Also such a variation of the exponent maybe interpreted as a different combination of the continuous phase. However, for both systems studied, correlation to show the effect of reaction on D32 has been represented. By comparing the results, the prediction of mean drop size diameter in the leach solution is possible by using synthetic solution data with AARD <10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case-mix project started in the Netherlands with the primary goal to define a complete set of health care products for hospitals. The definition of the product structure was completed 4 years later. The results are currently being used for billing purposes. This paper focuses on the methodology and techniques that were developed and applied in order to define the casemix product structure. The central research question was how to develop a manageable product structure, i.e., a limited set of hospital products, with acceptable cost homogeneity. For this purpose, a data warehouse with approximately 1.5 million patient records from 27 hospitals was build up over a period of 3 years. The data associated with each patient consist of a large number of a priori independent parameters describing the resource utilization in different stages of the treatment process, e.g., activities in the operating theatre, the lab and the radiology department. Because of the complexity of the database, it was necessary to apply advanced data analysis techniques. The full analyses process that starts from the database and ends up with a product definition consists of four basic analyses steps. Each of these steps has revealed interesting insights. This paper describes each step in some detail and presents the major results of each step. The result consists of 687 product groups for 24 medical specialties used for billing purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon cycle has a fundamental role in changing climate of the earth. Recent models of the estuary-atmosphere system demonstrate the potentially great importance of estuarine environment to the regulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Carbon, the key element of life is available in organic and inorganic forms as different compounds in air, water and soil. Our study site, Hooghly - Matla estuarine system receives a large load of nutrients throughout the year. This is mainly due to high litterfall from the adjacent luxuriant mangroves and yield of huge suspended sediment carried along with the river Ganges which is flowing through the western part of the Sundarban mangrove ecosystem.Keeping in view the crucial role of carbon, a seven compartment model has been proposed to study the dynamics of carbon in this estuarine system. Different forms of carbon present in soil (as soil organic carbon (SOC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC)) and in water (as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved carbon dioxide (DCO2), dissolved bicarbonate (DBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC)) are taken as state variables. Litter biomass, dissolved oxygen, primary productivity, community respiration, temperature of water, pH of water, pH of soil, air-water exchange of carbon dioxide and conversion rates among different forms of carbon are considered as graph time functions. The data used in the present model are collected for over two years from our field works and experiments. Other sensitive rate parameters which are not possible to collect from survey or experiment, calibrated following standard procedure. Sensitivity analysis is performed along with calibration. Model simulation results are validated with observed data. Results show seasonal variations of litterfall and which is the main source of SOC pool and ultimately transported to the estuary. Other than litterfall, death of organisms in soil and water enriches the SOC and POC respectively. pH of water is governing factor and depending on this factor, DIC is converted to DCO2 and DBC, which are taken up by phytoplankton during photosynthesis. Mineralization rate of SOC to SIC and uptake rate of DCO2 and DBC are the sensitive parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For many years, direct bonded copper (DBC) substrates have proved to be an excellent solution for electrical isolation and thermal management of high-power semiconductor modules. However, in this study we detected a copper residue on the surface of DBC alumina, presumably a result of pattern etching even in industry. As is known, growth of metal dendrites could be observed with the assistance of electric field, temperature, and humidity. Metal dendrites normally grow from the cathode to anode. Silver and copper are two kinds of metals susceptible to migration. In this work, copper dendrites could be formed at 400°C and 50 V/mm between conductors. These dendrites may impact the reliability of DBC in power electronic applications. Therefore, the formation of copper residue is an interesting phenomenon for etched DBC and warrants further attention in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The kinetics of forward extraction [AuCl4]− from aqua regia medium by diethylene glycol dibutyl ether (DBC) have been investigated by the Lewis cell (LC) technique. At first gold extraction has been carried out under different experimental conditions for achieving the stoichiometry coefficients and the value of the extraction equilibrium constant (K=0.1). For kinetic data treatment, flux ‘F’ method has been applied. Reaction order with respect to DBC, pH and [AuCl4]− was determined and then the rate constant was calculated. The rate of gold extraction from 2M chloride medium can be expressed as F=100.88[AuCl4 −]1.25 [DBC]0.4 [H +]−0.22. Kinetics data were treated by EVIEWS software and coefficients were obtained. The comparison of manual and software results indicated that the results had good conformity. Influence of temperature was studied and then activation energy, Ea, (11.17kJ/mol), activation enthalpy (11.66kJ/mol) and entropy (−187J/molK) were calculated by using Arrhenius and activation complex theory respectively. Ea value (<20.9kJ/mol) indicates that, the extraction of gold (III) in the investigated system is controlled by diffusion process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Testing of the behaviour of passive safety systems during conditions of loss of alternating power for the BWR KERENA. • In all cases the key safety functions of core cooling and keeping containment integrity were verified. • The experimental results provide an unprecedented and much valued database for validation of thermal–hydraulic system codes. This paper presents results from a series of integral tests performed at Framatome's INKA test facility in Karlstein (Germany) which simulates a KERENA boiling water reactor (BWR). The scope of the test series was on the behaviour of and interaction between the different passive systems and components under the conditions of extended loss of alternating power (ELAP). These SBO-like conditions were aggravated in three out of four tests by parallel LOCA (Loss of Coolant Accident). The scenarios of all four tests fully correspond to Design Basic Conditions (DBC). They were: main steam line break, feed water line break, reactor pressure vessel (RPV) bottom leak and station blackout (SBO, non-LOCA). In the tests, the passive systems integrated in KERENA and INKA, respectively, have fulfilled their design functions fully satisfactorily and as follows: The Passive Pressure Pulse Transmitter (PPPT) triggered the RPV depressurization without delay. The Emergency Condenser (EC) system removed decay heat along with stored energy from the RPV to the containment. The Containment Cooling Condenser (CCC) system forwarded said power to a heat sink outside of the containment. The passive containment pressure suppression system kept the containment pressure within the design range, partially displacing surplus thermal energy from the drywell to the wetwell, in particular in the early phases after occurrence of LOCA. The passive core flooding system replenished the coolant inventory of the RPV thereby ensuring water levels in the RPV which are fully sufficient for core cooling. Moreover, the systems have cooperated as anticipated by the designers, quietly and without perturbing each other. Hence the test results, which are reported and discussed more in detail within this paper, soundly confirm the underlying design and its passive features. Said tests were carried out as a part of the joint research project EASY (E vidence of Design Basis A ccidents Mitigation solely with passive safety Sy stems), the overarching objective of which was the development and validation of the code system AC2 of GRS (Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit gGmbH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Near infrared spectroscopic (NIR; 1100–2500nm), chemical and genetic data were combined to study the pleiotropic secondary effects of mutant genes on milled samples in a barley seed model. NIR and chemical data were both effective in classifying gene and gene combinations by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Risø mutants R-13, R-29 high (1→3, 1→4)-β-glucan, low starch and R-1508 (high lysine, reduced starch), near isogeneic controls and normal lines and recombinants were studied. Based on proteome analysis results, six anti-microbial proteins were followed during endosperm development revealing pleiotropic gene effects in expression timing that supporting the gene classification. To verify that NIR spectroscopy data represents a physio–chemical fingerprint of the barley seed, physical and chemical spectral components were partially separated by Multiple Scatter Correction and their genetic classification ability verified. Wavelength bands with known water binding and (1→3, 1→4)-β-glucan assignments were successfully predicted by partial least squares regression giving insight into how NIR-data works in classification. Highly reproducible gene-specific, covariate, pleiotropic classification patterns from NIR and chemical data were demonstrated in PCAs and by visual inspection of NIR spectra. Thus PCA classification of NIR-data gives the classical genetic concept, ‘pleiotropy’, a new operational definition as a fingerprint from a spectroscopic representation of the phenome carrying genetic, physical and chemical information. It is concluded that barley seed phenotyping by NIR and chemometrics is a new, reliable tool for characterising the pleiotropic effects of mutant gene combinations and other genotypes in selecting barley for quality in plant breeding. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The existence of reconfigurable logic arrays has made it possible to create on the same physical hardware platform many different virtual circuits: A configuration bit stream loaded into the logic array determines the virtual circuit that is to be emulated. The virtual logic can be used to create new instructions that supplement the instruction set of a conventional processor (as demonstrated, for example, in (Athanas and Silverman, 1993) and (Agarwal et al., 1994)) or alternatively can operate as a parallel coprocessor, as shown in the Splash systems (Gokhale et al., 1991) and (Gokhale and Minnich, 1993). The ease of hardware reconfiguration has not been accompanied by a corresponding capability in the software environment. In most cases, schematic capture tools, textual hardware description languages, or low-level vendor-specific tools must be used to create new configurations. Research into high-level synthesis for reconfigurable arrays has begun, however, as evidenced by the PRISM-2 tools of (Agarwal et al., 1994) and the dbC translation system of (Gokhale and Minnich, 1993). The ability to write algorithms for these arrays in a high-level procedural language is key to their effective use. In this paper we describe the data-parallel bit C system that is used to program a reconfigurable logic array as a custom SIMD coprocessor. The dbC language has bit-oriented extensions to C, which give the programmer control over the size of parallel data objects so that the data size requirements of the algorithm can be accurately reflected in the hardware. The data parallel extensions provide the ability to define a SIMD processor array; to operate on data in the processors' memories; to perform global reductions over the processor array; and to communicate data between nearest-neighbor processing elements. We describe the major components of our translation system and show how it is mapped onto the Splash 2 system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CTE mismatch between direct bonding copper (DBC) layers results in excessive thermal stress, causing the fatigue cracks and delamination after long time run, which deteriorate the reliability of DBC and the power module in the end. A method of designing mesh patterns on DBC is proposed in this paper to release the thermal stress. At the same time, the comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the mesh patterns and the DBC reliability is made. The finite element method is used to simulate the distributions and variations of thermal stress on DBC with different mesh patterns. Both the theoretical and experimental results prove the function of the thermal stress release for the mesh on DBC. Furthermore, the meshes on the edge or corner, and with smaller size are most effective. In experiment, compared with the DBC without mesh, the thermal cycling lifetime for the DBC with the optimized mesh pattern could be improved by 15 times. • Etched square grids on copper edges of DBC substrate could relief thermal stress. • Stress relief of mesh patterns with different location and size is different. • The substrate with etched mesh closer copper corners achieves the highest reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]