Clemson University

About: Clemson University is a education organization based out in Clemson, South Carolina, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Control theory. The organization has 20556 authors who have published 42518 publications receiving 1170779 citations. The organization is also known as: Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina.

Distribution circuit state estimation using a probabilistic approach

Abstract: Past work on distribution circuit state estimation has focused on the adoption of a transmission state estimator approach, without necessarily accounting for the specific requirement of a distribution circuit-based analysis. On distribution circuits, typically, there are very few available real-time measurements, and thus, researchers have treated customer load demand estimates as pseudo-measurements in a weighted-least-squares formulation. This can lead to convergence problems and also, the approach effectively assumes that all bus load demands are normally distributed (Gaussian) which may not be valid on distribution circuits. This paper presents an alternative approach to distribution circuit state estimation using a probabilistic extension of the radial load flow algorithm while accounting for real-time measurements as solution constraint. The algorithm which takes advantage of the radial nature of distribution circuits also accounts for other issues specific to distribution circuits. Namely, the algorithm accounts for nonnormally distributed loads, incorporates the concept of load diversity (load correlation) and can interact with a load allocation routine. The effectiveness of the algorithm is illustrated through comparisons made with Monte Carlo simulations.

Reflections on the Evolution of Piscine Viviparity

Abstract: Viviparity first makes its evolutionary appearance within the craniate-vertebrate line among fishes. We estimate that it has independently evolved at least 42 times in five of the nine major groups of fishes. Viviparity is the dominant mode of reproduction among the cartilaginous sharks and rays, i.e. , 55% of approximately 900 living species. It is less prevalent among the five major groups of bony fishes, i.e. , 2–3% of an estimated 20,000 or more species. The evolution of viviparity from oviparity involves: 1) a shift from external to internal fertilization; 2) retention of embryos in the female reproductive system; 3) utilization of the ovaryor oviduct as sites of gestation; 4) structural and functional modification of the embryo and the female reproductive system and; 5) modification of extant endocrine mechanisms controlling reproduction. Viviparity offers selective advantages to parents and offspring, such as: 1) enhanced survival of offspring; 2) compensation for low fecundity; 3) amplification of reproductive niches to reduce competition; 4) exploitation of pelagic niches; 5) colonization of new habitats; and 6) increased energetic efficiency in viviparous matrotrophes. Its principal disadvantages include: 1) reduced fecundity; 2) cost to the female; and 3) risk of brood loss through maternal death. Acquisition of viviparityestablishes new maternal-embryonic relationships, namely: 1) trophic; 2) osmoregulatory and excretory; 3) respiratory; 4) endocrinological; and 5) immunological. In sharks, rays, and the coelacanth, gestation takes place in the oviduct, but in teleosts gestation occurs either in the ovarian follicle or ovarian lumen. The cystovarian teleostean ovary is hypothesized to function both as ovary and oviduct. Oviductal, ovarian lumenal, andfollicular epithelial cells are the maternal sites of metabolic exchange. Metabolic exchange inembryos takes place across the epithelia of the general body surface and its derivatives or across the gut epithelium and its derivatives. Four patterns of piscine placentation have evolved,namely: 1) yolk sac; 2) follicular; 3) branchial; and 4) trophotaenial placentae. The pericardial amniochorion, the embryonic portion of the follicular placenta, occurs in poeciliids and several other teleostean groups. Developmental, it is nearly identical to the anterior aminochorionic fold of tetrapod vertebrates. Trophotaeniae are external rosette or ribbon-like structuresthat have evolved in four orders of teleosts by heterochrony, i.e. , accelerated outgrowth and differentiation of the embryonic hind gut. With the possible exception of the coelacanth, theyolk sac placenta occurs only in sharks. We estimate that it has independently evolved between 11 and 20 times. It displays considerable diversity. Evolution of the yolk sac placenta entails retention of the yolk sac and secondary differentiation of its distal portion for implantation and maternal tissue-embryonic tissue metabolic exchange and its proximal portion for oviductal fluid-embryonic tissue exchange. The yolk stalk lengthens, is modified into an umbilical stalk, and establishes a site of autotomy at the embryo-umbilical stalk junction. The lumenal wall of the oviduct becomes competent to function as a site of implantation.

Functionality of muscle constituents in the processing of comminuted meat products

Abstract: Emulsification through the creation of a fat dispersion and formation of an interfacial protein membrane at the fat-water interface is not the sole aspect responsible for comminuted meat "emulsion" stability. In addition, water binding which occurs initially during myofibrillar protein extraction from tissue disruption, and later during entrapment within the heat-induced protein gel matrix, must be included. The criteria that affect formation of the gel matrix adds another aspect, in that conditions for optimum protein-protein interaction also influence ultimate water and fat stabilization. Rheological considerations are in their infancy and will require future study, particularly during the transformation of a "flowing" batter into a "nonflowing" solid product. This review has been aimed at emphasizing that the myofibrillar protein component is the predominant constituent involved in an interactive role with water, fat, and itself, in forming the ultimate stabilized comminuted meat matrix.

Development of the serious leisure inventory and measure.

Abstract: In this investigation, the serious leisure inventory and measure (SLIM) was developed from convenience and target samples. The multidimensional framework of serious leisure contains six qualities f...

Detecting periods of eating during free-living by tracking wrist motion.

Abstract: This paper is motivated by the growing prevalence of obesity, a health problem affecting over 500 million people. Measurements of energy intake are commonly used for the study and treatment of obesity. However, the most widely used tools rely upon self-report and require a considerable manual effort, leading to underreporting of consumption, noncompliance, and discontinued use over the long term. The purpose of this paper is to describe a new method that uses a watch-like configuration of sensors to continuously track wrist motion throughout the day and automatically detect periods of eating. Our method uses the novel idea that meals tend to be preceded and succeeded by the periods of vigorous wrist motion. We describe an algorithm that segments and classifies such periods as eating or noneating activities. We also evaluate our method on a large dataset (43 subjects, 449 total h of data, containing 116 periods of eating) collected during free-living. Our results show an accuracy of 81% for detecting eating at 1-s resolution in comparison to manually marked event logs of periods eating. These results indicate that vigorous wrist motion is a useful indicator for identifying the boundaries of eating activities, and that our method should prove useful in the continued development of body-worn sensor tools for monitoring energy intake.