Jacobi script v sign-functions and discrete Fourier transforms

Properties of the Jacobi script v sign3-function and its derivatives under discrete Fourier transforms are investigated, and several interesting results are obtained. The role of modulo N equivalence classes in the theory of script v sign-functions is stressed. An important conjecture is studied. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Discrete-time sliding mode control of input-delay systems applied on a power generation system

This paper presents two discrete sliding mode control (SMC) design. The first one is a discrete-time SMC design that doesn't take into account the time-delay. The second one is a discrete-time SMC design, which takes in consideration the time-delay. The proposed techniques aim at the accomplishment simplicity and robustness for an uncertainty class. Simulations results are shown and the effectiveness of the used techniques is analyzed. © 2006 IEEE.

Location of single line-to-ground faults on distribution feeders using voltage measurements

This paper proposes a dedicated algorithm for lation of single line-to-ground faults in distribution systems. The proposed algorithm uses voltage and current phasors measured at the substation level, voltage magnitudes measured at some buses of the feeder, a database containing electrical, operational and topological parameters of the distribution networks, and fault simulation. Voltage measurements can be obtained using power quality devices already installed on the feeders or using voltage measurement devices dedicated for fault location. Using the proposed algorithm, likely faulted points that are located on feeder laterals geographically far from the actual faulted point are excluded from the results. Assessment of the algorithm efficiency was carried out using a 238 buses real-life distribution feeder. The results show that the proposed algorithm is robust for performing fast and efficient fault location for sustained single line-to-ground faults requiring less than 5% of the feeder buses to be covered by voltage measurement devices. © 2006 IEEE.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) location in the ventral, lateral, dorsal and anterior lobes of rat prostate by immunohistochemistry

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) play a major role in extracellular matrix component degradation in several normal and abnormal tissue situations; they are also found in human seminal plasma. MMPs have been found in rat prostate secretions and are nearly lobe specific in expression pattern. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether TIMP-2, like other semen components, is expressed differently from different rat prostatic lobes. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in both young and adult rat ventral (VP), lateral (LP), dorsal (DP), and anterior (AP) prostatic lobes and confirmed by western blotting. TIMP-2 expression was found in the epithelial cells in the following sequence: LP > AP > DP > VP, in both young and adult rats. In this study, 100% of adult LP presented histological signs of prostatitis, where TIMP-2 immunostaining was positive in normal epithelium even with intraluminal neutrophils, but was reduced or absent in the epithelium with intraepithelial leukocytes or with periductal stroma disorganization associated with mononuclear cell infiltration. However, TIMP-2 expression in LP was not induced by prostatitis, since younger rat LPs were also strongly TIMP-2 positive. The distal and intermediate VP regions were TIMP-2 negative, but the proximal regions were strongly stained. Western blotting results confirmed the high TIMP-2 expression in the LP lobe. Thus, TIMP-2 is expressed differently between the prostatic lobes and is another nearly lobe-specific protein, which plays a role in the regulation of MMP activity in seminal plasma and glandular homeostasis. TIMP-2 is also another regional ductal variation of VP. Further studies should address whether TIMP-2 expression is related to the highest incidence of rat LP prostatitis and adenocarcinoma. © 2006 International Federation for Cell Biology.

Discrete wavelet transform signal analyzer

This paper addresses the problem of processing biological data, such as cardiac beats in the audio and ultrasonic range, and on calculating wavelet coefficients in real time, with the processor clock running at a frequency of present application-specified integrated circuits and field programmable gate array. The parallel filter architecture for discrete wavelet transform (DWT) has been improved, calculating the wavelet coefficients in real time with hardware reduced up to 60%. The new architecture, which also processes inverse DWT, is implemented with the Radix-2 or the Booth-Wallace constant multipliers. One integrated circuit signal analyzer in the ultrasonic range, including series memory register banks, is presented. © 2007 IEEE.

On stability of differential equations with piecewise constant argument and the associated discrete equations using dichotomic map

Dichotomic maps are considered by means of the stability of the null solution of a class of differential equations with piecewise constant argument via associated discrete equations. Copyright © 2008 Watam Press.

External location of the buccinator muscle to facilitate electromyographic analysis

Electromyography is frequently used to measure the activity of masticatory muscles. It requires the precise setting of the electrodes, which demands the accurate location of the muscle to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of an external method to locate the buccinator muscle. Fifteen human cadavers were evaluated and planes were etermined on the face using anatomic landmarks. An angle (α) was obtained at the intersection of these planes on the central point of buccinator muscle and measured with a protractor. The value of the angle allows locating the central point of buccinator muscle based on anatomic landmarks on the face. Statistical analysis of the collected data indicated an angle of 90° with 95% reliability, thus proving the efficacy of the proposed method.

Improving a process in a brazilian automotive plant applying process mapping, Design of Experiments and Discrete Events Simulation

The objective of this article is to apply the Design of Experiments technique along with the Discrete Events Simulation technique in an automotive process. The benefits of the design of experiments in simulation include the possibility to improve the performance in the simulation process, avoiding trial and error to seek solutions. The methodology of the conjoint use of Design of Experiments and Computer Simulation is presented to assess the effects of the variables and its interactions involved in the process. In this paper, the efficacy of the use of process mapping and design of experiments on the phases of conception and analysis are confirmed.

New insights into telomeric DNA sequence (TTAGGG)n location in bat chromosomes

Molossidae species, Cynomops abrasus (2n = 34, fundamental number, FN = 64), Eumops auripendulus (2n = 42, FN = 62), Molossus rufus (2n = 48, FN = 64), Molossops temminckii (2n = 48, FN = 64), and Nyctinomops laticaudatus (2n = 48, FN = 64), and Phyllostomidae species, Phyllostomus discolor (2n = 32, FN = 60), have karyotypes with different chromosome and fundamental numbers, different localization of constitutive heterochromatin, and different numbers and location of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs). Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a human probe of the telomeric sequence (TTAGGG)n produced fluorescent signals in telomeric regions of the six bat species' chromosomes; in E. auripendulus, pericentromeric signals were also observed in the acrocentric and subtelocentric chromosomes. A relationship between telomeric sequences and NORs, and between telomeric sequences and constitutive heterochromatin was detected in chromosomes bearing NORs in C. abrasus, M. temminckii, N. laticaudatus, and P. discolor. No interstitial signal was observed in the meta- or submetacentric chromosomes of these species. ©FUNPEC-RP.

Infraorbital foramen location in dry human skulls

The objective of this study was to determine the mean distance between the infraorbital foramen and the infraorbital margin, as well as the mean distance between the infraorbital foramen and the piriform aperture on both sides of dry human skulls, with the aim of improving the efficiency in clinical situations, such as surgery and anesthetic procedures. Two hundred ninety-five skulls were used (590 sides), located in the Frankfurt Plane through a craniostat. The measurements were collected by two distinct operators, with a dry tip compass and carried to a caliper. The general mean obtained between the infraorbital foramen and the infraorbital margin was 6.37 mm (±1.69 mm), with a mean of 6,28 mm (±1.79 mm) on the right side and 6.45 mm (±1.76 mm) on the left side. The general mean obtained between the infraorbital foramen and the piriform aperture was 17.67 mm (±1.95 mm), being 17.75 mm (±2.10 mm) on the right side and 17.60 mm (±2.04 mm) on the left side. There were statistically significant differences between the right and left distances of the infraorbital foramen and the infraorbital margin, verified by the Student's-t test. The results of this study allow a more precise location of the infraorbital foramen, particularly as regards the infraorbital margin, since this distance is of relevant importance as a repair point during surgical procedures involving this anatomical structure.

Analysis of mandibular position using different methods of location.

There has been much discussion regarding the ideal position of the condyle in the mandibular fossa. Although the centric relation position (CR) is used as a reference, some authors do not believe that it is physiologic. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate in a group of asymptomatic individuals the position of the condyle in the mandibular fossa at maximum intercuspation (MI), with a occlusal splint and with a Lucia jig between the teeth. It was analyzed by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transcranial radiography imaging and analysis of horizontal axis of rotation from casts mounted on an articulator. The results showed that even if patients had mandibular displacement in positions of CR, habitual maximum intercuspation and with the occlusal splint, confirmed by means of the analysis of the horizontal axis of rotation, the images showed no statistically significant differences among condylar positions. It can therefore be concluded that the positions analyzed were similar and that transcranial radiography seems to be a reliable method for analyzing condylar position.

Clinical and histologic features of botryoid odontogenic cyst: A case report

Introduction. The lateral periodontal cyst, as the name implies, occurs on a lateral periodontal location and is of developmental origin, arising from cystic degeneration of clear cells of the dental lamina. A botryoid odontogenic cyst is considered to be a rare multilocular variant of a lateral periodontal cyst. Case presentation. We report the clinical and histopathologic features of a rare case of botryoid odontogenic cyst found in an edentulous area corresponding to the right lower canine of a 64-year-old African-American woman. A multilocular radiolucency was observed, and surgical removal of the lesion revealed a nodule of rubber-like consistency measuring about 1.5 cm in diameter. Cross-sectioning of the nodule showed that it consisted of various cystic compartments. Histologically, various voluminous periodic acid-Schiff-negative clear cells randomly distributed throughout the cystic epithelium were observed, as well as cell layers showing thickenings generally formed by oval, sometimes entangled plaques. The capsule consisted of fibrous connective tissue and showed rare and discrete foci of a perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and reactive bone-tissue fragments. The final diagnosis was botryoid odontogenic cyst. Conclusion: We provide data that allow the reader to establish the differences between botryoid odontogenic cyst, glandular odontogenic cyst, and lateral periodontal cyst, helping with the differential diagnosis. The reader will have the opportunity to review botryoid odontogenic cyst clinical and histopathologic features, including treatment. © 2010 Farina et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Filtering for discrete-time Markov jump systems with network transmitted mode

This paper is concerned with ℋ 2 and ℋ ∞ filter design for discrete-time Markov jump systems. The usual assumption of mode-dependent design, where the current Markov mode is available to the filter at every instant of time is substituted by the case where that availability is subject to another Markov chain. In other words, the mode is transmitted to the filter through a network with given transmission failure probabilities. The problem is solved by modeling a system with N modes as another with 2N modes and cluster availability. We also treat the case where the transition probabilities are not exactly known and demonstrate our conditions for calculating an ℋ ∞ norm bound are less conservative than the available results in the current literature. Numerical examples show the applicability of the proposed results. ©2010 IEEE.

A practical guide for operational validation of discrete simulation models

As the number of simulation experiments increases, the necessity for validation and verification of these models demands special attention on the part of the simulation practitioners. By analyzing the current scientific literature, it is observed that the operational validation description presented in many papers does not agree on the importance designated to this process and about its applied techniques, subjective or objective. With the expectation of orienting professionals, researchers and students in simulation, this article aims to elaborate a practical guide through the compilation of statistical techniques in the operational validation of discrete simulation models. Finally, the guide's applicability was evaluated by using two study objects, which represent two manufacturing cells, one from the automobile industry and the other from a Brazilian tech company. For each application, the guide identified distinct steps, due to the different aspects that characterize the analyzed distributions. © 2011 Brazilian Operations Research Society.

Optimal phasor measurement units placement for fault location on overhead electric power distribution feeders

This paper proposes a new approach for optimal phasor measurement units placement for fault location on electric power distribution systems using Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure metaheuristic and Monte Carlo simulation. The optimized placement model herein proposed is a general methodology that can be used to place devices aiming to record the voltage sag magnitudes for any fault location algorithm that uses voltage information measured at a limited set of nodes along the feeder. An overhead, three-phase, three-wire, 13.8 kV, 134-node, real-life feeder model is used to evaluate the algorithm. Tests show that the results of the fault location methodology were improved thanks to the new optimized allocation of the meters pinpointed using this methodology. © 2011 IEEE.