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A community of educators are using Ning to build social networks. Ning is sponsoring this network to provide support and help to educators, and to get feedback from the educational community to continue to improve Ning. The website features events, forums, workshops, web shows, resources and more. The Ning ID authentication system lets you choose an email address and password once and use it to join or sign into any social network that uses the Ning ID.
Vesicoureteral reflux grading in contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography
2002-08-01
Introduction and objective: The sonographic diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) with contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography (VUS) is gradually increasing. With the introduction of VUS as part of the routine diagnostic imaging modalities for reflux significant reduction in the number of voiding cystourethrographies (VCUG) was possible. Like in VCUG grading of reflux in VUS is becoming more and more relevant. The aim of this study was to find out if there are any sonomorphologic and sonomorphometric parameters that would correlate with reflux grading in VCUG. Furthermore, a reflux grading system for VUS is proposed and the correlation of this grading system tested with the one of VCUG. Patients and methods: In one examination session a total of 186 children underwent both VUS and VCUG of whom 89 had VUR in at least one and the same kidney-ureter-unit (KUU) in both diagnostic imagings. The VUS was conducted with intravesical administration of ultrasound (US) contrast medium (Levovist[reg]). Ureteral and pelvicalyceal dilatations before administration of US contrast medium and during reflux were documented. Renal pelvic diameter was measured. The density of microbubbles in the renal pelves was scored on a scale of 1-3 (low to high). A grading system for reflux in VUS was set up similar to the international reflux grading system for VCUG with the addition of one more differentiation parameter, namely whether the reflux was primarily in a dilated or non-dilated urinary tract. Reflux grades in VUS were compared with those in VCUG. Results: None of the sonomorphologic and sonomorphometric parameters demonstrated any clear cut finding that would simplify reflux grading in VUS. In 59/95 (62%) KUUs the reflux grades were the same in both examinations. In 10/95 (11%) and 26/95 (27%) KUUs, the reflux was graded lower or higher, respectively, in VUS than in VCUG. Fifty-seven percent were in a primarily dilated system and the remaining 43% in a non-dilated one. Seventy percent of KUUs diagnosed as having grade I reflux in VCUG, showed as grade 2 on VUS. Conclusions: A reflux grading system similar to the one used in VCUG can be applied in VUS. Adding the parameter reflux into a primarily dilated or non-dilated ureter and/or pelvicalyceal system may bring in a further dimension to the reflux grading in VUS. Most of the refluxes labelled as grade I in VCUG are actually grade II or higher.
Trusted Certificates in Quantum Cryptography
2006-03-10
This paper analyzes the performance of Kak's three stage quantum cryptographic protocol based on public key cryptography against a man-in-the-middle attack. A method for protecting against such an attack is presented using certificates distributed by a trusted third party.
Parallel relaxation labelling for optic flow
1989-01-01
Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) parallel implementations of the classical relaxation labelling algorithm of Rosenfield and Kak, and the symmetrized algorithm of Ibison and Zapalowski for estimating optic flow are described and the performances of the two algorithms on a random dot kinematogram are compared.
Location of Single Neuron Memories in a Hebbian Network
2009-08-24
This paper reports the results of an experiment on the use of Kak's B-matrix approach to spreading activity in a Hebbian neural network. Specifically, it concentrates on the memory retrieval from single neurons and proposes a lower bound on the number of memories that can be retrieved from a given neural network.
Emerging NDE Technologies and Challenges at the Beginning of the 3 ...
Jan 5, 1999 ... Compute Tomography Scan. Computer processing of the distribution of the X-ray ... angles is used to produce computed tomography (CT) scans [Kak and ..... ultrasound data to standard TV output. The system operates as a ...
Effects of Tang Niao Ning decoction on ET-1, GMP-140 and TXB2 in diabetic rats
2003-01-01
To investigate the effects of Tang Niao Ning decoction on fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), endothelin (ET-1), platelet granule membrane protein (GMP-140), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-keto-PGF1alpha), the selected female Wistar rats were modeled by streptozotocin (STZ) and high fat diets, and were randomly divided into two groups as Tang Niao Ning and model group, while the normal control group was set up. The Tang Niao Ning group started to supply decoctions after these rats had been fed one week with high fat diets. The rats were killed after six weeks. Above items were examed. The results showed that the model group displayed marked difference when the experiment finished compared with the normal group. The contents of fasting ...
Are We Related? Looking for Patterns In Planetary Diversity
Laplace calculated the increase in rotation of the contracting nebula and ... result of fragmented data analogous to that of the blind men describing an elephant. ... Those exam ning the trunk, tusks and body described the e ephant as a ...
AERODYNAMIC DESIGN OPTIMIZATION VIA REDUCED HESSIAN SQP WITH ...
equations show that through solution re ning the e ciency and the robustness of the ... SQP, a quadratic approximation to the Lagrangian function of (1.1) ..... puter Science, NASA Ames Research Center, Mo ett Field, California, 1995. ...
A new functional form to study the solar wind control of the ...
The solar wind interacts with the Earth's dipole. magnetic eld, con ning it in a .... symmetry has been assumed in this study. The mag-. netopause size and shape have been .... the crossing, their procedure risks identifying a dis- ...
2010-01-01
We determined the complete mitochondrial DNA sequences for two species of surface- and cave-dwelling-cyprinid fishes, Sinocyclocheilus grahami and S. altishoulderus. Sequence comparison of 13 protein-coding genes shows that the mutation pattern of each single gene is quite similar to those of other vertebrate animal species. Analysis of the ratios of Ka/Ks at these loci between Sinocyclocheilus and two other cyprinid species (Cyprinus carpio and Procypris rabaudi) show that Ka/Ks ratios are differed, consistent with purifying selection and variation in functional constraint among genes. Bayesian analysis and maximum likelihood analysis of the concatenated mitochondrial protein sequences for 14 cyprinid taxa support the monophyly of the family Cyprininae, and further confirm the monophyly o...
2010-01-01
Spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is a destructive disease of wheat in warm and humid wheat growing regions of the world. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for spot blotch resistance, two mapping populations were developed by making the crosses between common susceptible cultivar Sonalika with the resistant breeding lines Ning 8201 and Chirya 3. Single seed descent derived F6, F7, F8 lines of the first cross Ning 8201Sonalika were evaluated for resistance to spot blotch in three blocks in each of the 3years. After screening of 388 pairs of simple sequence repeat primers between the two parents, 119 polymorphic markers were used to genotype the mapping population. Four QTLs were identified on the chromosomes 2AS, 2BS, 5BL and 7DS and ...
1991-01-01
In experiment with Waxy maize mutants the effects of X-rays and bioregulators were investigated. Gibberellic acid and sodium humate were shown to decrease the xposed pollen sterility. Genotypical specificity was noted in the response of mutants to the effect of the factors under study
1983-01-01
Questions are covered of analytical description of the wave field of stresses forming around a vibration source placed in a coal massif as applied to development of parameters for the method of controlling the condition of vibration-dangerous coal bed.
1982-01-01
An examination is made of the main modifications of the process of oil agglomeration. Input and output parameters of oil agglomeration are established; perturbing effects are isolated with regulated effects and interferences. Based on analysis of the known technological plan of oil agglomeration, operating modes of the granulators, interrelationship of the parameters, and studies of the authors, a structural plan is compiled for the process as an object of control. Characteristics are briefly presented for the established links of the parameters.
1982-01-01
An analysis was made of the rhythm of coal recovery in longwall, main principles were revealed for disorder in rhythm, the nature of their influence on the body of the miners was established. Using economic and physiological characteristics, the dependence of the performance capacity of the workers on the level of rhythm of the production process was defined. This makes it possible to reveal reserves for possible rise in the load on the cleaning face with preservation of optimal physiological characteristics for workers.
2009-01-01
Synthesis of fullerenes and hydrides of fullerenes from molecules of aromatic hydrocarbons is realized. Original morphologies of carbon nano structures are presented. These structures demonstrate that their growth by the mechanism of VLS cannot be fulfilled. The alternative polycondensational mechanism of construction of carbon molecules is discussed
1998-01-01
The problem of the creation of the foam-formation solution based on the soaped melted pitch for dust suppression in the 'Ukrytie' has been considered. Presented are experimental results relating to investigation into the foam former properties, derived foams, efficiency of dust suppression and protection properties after foams of localisation layers are ruined. 12 refs., 6 tab., 3 figs
1987-01-01
Cost-benefit analysis of advisability of preparation decontamination of WWER reactor circuit equipment is presented. It is shown that decontamination expediency is determined by estimation of expected decontamination effect. For this purpose comparison of the body of repair works on the given equipment, expected collective doses and costs resulting from the chosen decontamination method and required washout coefficient should be carried out
1984-01-01
The problem ofthe stress deformed state of a rock mass around a drift and the effect of elastic waves is examined in order to control this state. A review of literature is presented. A formulation is proposed, along with a way to solve the above cited problem. The problem about the effect of dynamic tangential load on the roof and floor of a drift is solved as an example.
Nobel laureate T.D. Lee at CERN
2007-09-05
$$b On 30 August, Professor T.D. Lee, who received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1957, gave a seminar at CERN on symmetry and asymmetry in electroweak interactions, 50 years after the discovery of the non-conservation of parity. In 1956, Tsung-Dao Lee postulated with Chen Ning Yang that parity is not conserved in weak interactions, and suggested several experiments to demonstrate this. The following year, an experiment led by Chien-Shiung Wu proved this prediction and, soon after, T.D. Lee and Chen Ning Yang were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Still very active at over 80 years of age, T.D. Lee pursues his theory work to this day.
Dynamics of shock propagation and nucleosynthesis conditions in O-Ne-Mg core supernovae
2007-12-28
Recently, Ning, Qian, & Meyer proposed that the shocked surface layers of exploding O-Ne-Mg cores provide the conditions for r-process nucleosynthesis, because their rapid expansion and high entropies enable heavy r-process isotopes to form even in an environment with very low initial neutron excess of the matter. We show here that the most sophisticated available hydrodynamic simulations do not support this new r-process scenario because they fail to provide the necessary conditions of temperature, entropy, and expansion timescale by significant factors. This suggests that either the formation of r-process elements works differently than suggested by Ning et al., or that some essential core properties with influence on the explosion dynamics might be different from those predicted by Nomoto's progenitor model.
Rooted in symmetry: Yang reflects on a life of physics
"During his latest visit to CERN, Nobel laureate Chen Ning Yang talked to CERN Courier about some of his early work, his impressions of the LHC and his thoughts about the future of physics."; 2006 Nobel laureate George Smoot talked about his quest to explore the early universe; Masayuki Nakahata, who ofundthe signal of a neutrino pulse emitted by SN1987A, looks at the ongoing legacy of this event; (9 pages with photos)
RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DRINKING WATER ARSENIC IN INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA
Residential exposure to drinking water arsenic in Inner Mongolia, China Zhixiong Ning1, Richard K. Kwok2, Zhiyi Liu1, Shiying Zhang1, Chenglong Ma1, Danelle T. Lobdell2, Michael Riediker3 and Judy L. Mumford2 1) Institute of Endemic Disease for Prevention and Treatment in I...
Parallel Applications for the Masses
cate these same calculations done in the year 2012, assuming .... in the implementation of NAMD[13], a molecular dynamics code that .... ning and end particle will be, then allocates sufficient storage ..... [13] J. C. Phillips, R . Braun, W. Wang, J. Gumbart, E. Tajkhorshid, E. Villa,. C. Chipot, R. D. Skeel, ...
Large Grain Niobium Cavity R&D in Asia and the Future
The status of the large grain niobium cavity R&D in Asia and the future scope are presented. Recently KEK has received CBMM and NingXia large grain niobium sheets through collaborations. KEK has fabricated 1.3 GHz single cell cavities using these materials and measured the cavity performance. Those results are presented in this paper.
Large Grain Niobium Cavity R&D in Asia and the Future
2007-09-01
The status of the large grain niobium cavity R&D in Asia and the future scope are presented. Recently KEK has received CBMM and NingXia large grain niobium sheets through collaborations. KEK has fabricated 1.3 GHz single cell cavities using these materials and measured the cavity performance. Those results are presented in this paper.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO ARSENIC VIA DRINKING WATER IN INNER MONGOLIA: IV. DISTRIBUTION OF ARSENIC CONCENTRATIONS IN WELLS Zhixiong Ning, B.S., Zhiyi Liu,B.S., Shiying Zhang, B.S., Chenglong Ma, B.S., Inner Mongolia Ba Men Anti-epidemic Station, Michael Ri...
Eight Nobel prizewinners at CERN in 1962
1962-07-01
In 1962, CERN hosted the 11th International Conference on High Energy Physics. Among the distinguished visitors were eight Nobel prizewinners. Left to right: Cecil F Powell, Isidor I Rabi, Werner Heisenberg, Edwin M McMillan, Emile Segre, Tsung Dao Lee, Chen Ning Yang and Robert Hofstadter.
ESTIMATING RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DRINKING WATER ARSENIC IN INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA FOR EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES Richard Kwok1, Pauline Mendola1 Zhixiong Ning2, Zhiyi Liu2 and Judy Mumford1 1) Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch, Human Studies Division, NHEERL, US EPA, R...
Analysis on hydrogeochemical conditions of uranium metallogenesis in Hailang hollow of Ning'an basin
2007-01-01
Based on analysis of uranium source, hydrogeological characteristics, hydrogeochemical environment and hydrogen oxygen isotope characteristics of purpose layer, the paper expounds uranium metallogenic hydrogeochemical features of the hollow, and analysis paleohydrogeologic condition with evolutionary history of the basin. According to the uranium metallogenic theories, three prospective areas for sandstone-type uranium deposit have been delineated. (authors)
1995-01-01
The program on the Energy strategy of Russia developed by the RF Minatiom and approved by the RF Government is analyzed. The program is aimed at preservation and strengthening the energy independence of the country by essential reduction of technogenic load of the thermoenergetical complex (TEC) on the environment. Special attention is paid to the state of enterprises of the oil-gas complex, requiring serious reconstruction due to the danger of their utilization to the ecological situation within the frames of the federal target program Fuel and energy. Attention is also paid to the currently developed program Ecological safety of the TEC
1991-01-01
Environment protection measures at underground coal gasification (UCG) plants were considered. They are subdivided into two groups: measures related to underground and overland complexes. In the underground complex the main problem involves gas leakage control. In the overland complex special attention is paid to gas purification from dust and tar in gas wells directly and to isolation of ammonia and phenols from complex gas condensate, and hydrogen sulfide - from the gas. UCG is a potential source of a new type of energy product of ecologically clean enterprises
2001-01-01
These is evidence that the increased incidence of allergic diseases of respiratory tract in Belarus could be associated with the elevated levels of radiation resulted from the Chernobyl catastrophe. Atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis have been shown to be connected with high levels of IgE playing a central role in allergic inflammation. It is very important to determine the levels of this immunoglobulin in order to evaluate the degree and stage of allergopathology, its prognosis, and screening and monitoring
2005-01-01
The decomposition of a forest litter in forest ecosystems contaminated by radionuclides is accompanied by the accumulation of organomineral compounds associated with 137Cs in deeper soil layers. The highest level of 13Cs in the upper organic-reach soil layers was found in the insoluble fraction of organic matter, hemicellulose and cellulose. Due to a high level of the 137Cs accumulation in a forest litter, the last generates a substantial part of the 137Cs background in forests
2005-01-01
On the assumption that the phase composition of multicomponent titanium alloys may be described with the help of isothermal section of the Ti-Al-Mo phase diagram at T = 700 deg C generalized in the coordinates of equivalent of alpha-stabilizers and neutral reinforcers by aluminium - equivalent of beta-stabilizers by molybdenum, a phase diagram of titanium alloys in annealed state was plotted. The diagram proposed allows to estimate the quantity of beta-phase in annealed titanium alloys from their chemical composition
1983-01-01
The values of exchange cations and the cation exchange capacity (KAK or T-value according to Mehlich) were checked for marshy soils. The determination of the samples with and without lime was done by standard soil mechanics methods. The characteristics of the Cs and Sr exchange properties were carried out by quantity intensity relationships (Q/I curves) using the example of sea, brackish and river marsh soils.
1988-01-01
Consideration is given to correlation of efficiency of results of treating patients with sepsis during traditional intensive therapy and during complex treatment, including hemosorption, hyperbaric oxygenation, ultraviolet blood irradiation, based on studying clinical picture, biochemical and immunological indices. Increase of treatment efficiency when using mentioned therapeutic measures, particularly their different combinations, is shown. 69 refs
1988-01-01
Analysis of a possibility of measuring high-temperature plasma potential distribution using the method of fast atom scattering on the probing ion beam is conducted. The method proposed is based on determining the ion beam energy depending on plasma potential from scattered atom energy spectrum. Application of the given method allows one to exclude a number of principle difficulties typical of plasma potential measurement using probing heavy ion beams. 34 refs
2008-01-01
Split nanofilms of aminoethyl podands at the developed surface of PVC-materials have been prepared. Their interaction with gaseous boron hydrides for the purpose of their application as hydrogen source has been investigated. The Fourier-IR spectroscopy was used for the stage control of the developed surface creation and studying adsorption of diborane. In the investigated material no more than 90 volumes of hydrogen fall at 1 volume of the material. This parameter can be repeatedly increased
1994-01-01
The data on the estimation of acidic force of complexes which are formers under interactions of Lewis acids and proton donors as well as the relation of acidic force to the activity and selectivity of the effect of a foreside complex compounds as catalysts of electrophilic process are generalised. Alulminium and magnesium chlorides, and boron fluoride-based complexes are considered. It is shown that the increase of acidic force as the catalyst of electrophilic reactions of polymerisatin foolow by the increase their activity, but reduces the selectivity of the process
2010-01-01
A simple, reliable and accurate fingerprinting method has been developed for quality control of YiGongNingXue oral liquid. The separation was done by reverse phase chromatography using Zorbax eclipse XDB C/sub 18/ column (250mmx4.6mmi. d. with 5.0 micro m particle size) and detection at 246nm. Methanol (5-95 % in 70 min)-buffer solution (water-phosphorica cid, pH 3.0, 95-0 percent in 70 min) as mobile phase for linear gradient elution. The flow rate was 1.0 mLmin/sup 1/ and the column temperature was at 25 deg. C. The similarity of 20 batches of YGNX oral liquid was more than 90 %. Also 15 common peaks of chromatogram have been detected, ten of them were identified by comparing fingerprint chromatogram with reference substances The HPLC fingerprint can be used to control the quality of YiGongNingXue oral liquid. (author)
Model potential calculation of the thermal donor energy spectrum in silicon
1988-06-15
The two-parameter model potential originally proposed by Ning and Sah (Phys. Rev. B 4, 3468 (1971)) for calculating the ground-state energies of group V and group VI impurities in silicon is extended to the variational calculation of the thermal donor ionization energies. In the multivalley effective mass approximation, the theoretical results are in excellent agreement with the reported experimental data. This provides additional evidence for the assumption that thermal donors consist of five to thirteen oxygen atoms, as first proposed by Ourmazd, Schroeter, and Bourret (J. Appl. Phys. 56, 1670 (1984)).
Enhancement of mixing by unsteady agitation of an impeller in an agitated vessel
1997-10-20
The effects of unsteady agitation, which was carried out by counter rotation, or raising and lowering of an impeller, on mixing of viscous liquids in an agitated vessel are investigated experimentally. A decoloration reaction is adopted to observe the mixing pattern and to measure the mixing time. By steady agitation, the segregated regions are formed in a vessel equipped with a 4-bladed pitched paddle in the range of relative low Reynolds numbers less than 200. It is demonstrated that these segregated regions are readily destroyed when counter rotation is carried out and are prevented from for7ning when the impeller is raised and lowered. 11 refs., 6 figs.
1982-01-01
This paper deals with diagenesis of Yan-10 Sandstones, Yanan Series, jurassic-the main producing horizons in an exploratory area in Shan-Gan-Ning Basin, China. The effects of diagenesis on pore texture and petrophysical porperties of sandstones, its effects on forming trapping conditions for oil pools, the genesis of low permeability zone near the oil-water boundary, as well as secondary pores together with authigenic clay minerals of sandstones are presented. Furthermore, the paper describes briefly Yan-10 Sandstones in some other areas. 11 refs.
2009-01-01
The article analyses a short story by Evgenii Popov titled `Kak s eli petukha' (`How the Rooster Was Eaten') or, more precisely, analyses meanings which the rooster has in the text as a festive New-Year dish. Based on culinary binary oppositions that Claude Levi-Strauss used to describe the nutritional habits of various European and non-European nations, the author of this article reduces the basic collision of Popovs story to a dichotomy between the food of vegetable origin and the food of animal origin or, more concretely, to an opposition between a non-meat soup on the one hand and the rooster on the other as two opposed variants of the New-Year feast. The author also aims to show that the semantic opposition between vegetarianism and "carnivorousness" is multidimensional, i.e. that bes...
2007-01-01
The findings of studies on the interaction between the WWER-1000 reactor vessel steels and elementary boron generated due to the reduction of boron oxide by debris of sub-oxidized U-Zr-O corium. It was found that at a temperature of 1300 deg C in the time interval of 2 and 4 hours samples of the vessel steels were fused to form eutectic zones of a high hardness in the interaction area. On studying mechanical properties of borated steels as fractured samples at the room temperature, a brittle character of their fracture was established
1999-01-01
It is shown that the experimentally investigated structural ion-sound plasma turbulence is the self-modeling stationary probabilistic process. The self-modeling parameter is determined by two timing regularities: the unstochastic character of the appearance of nonlinear ion-sound solitons and the nonlinear interaction between them. The self-modeling random process tends to the Gauss random process as removing from the threshold of the ion-sound current instability. The evidence of the self-modeling nature of the plasma jet turbulence is obtained due to the possibility of recording the super-long time realizations of plasma signal fluctuations and their processing by the R/S analysis method
2007-01-01
Investigation of halide vapor transport with the participation of indium and indium sulfides in a closed system indicates that applying a temperature gradient is insufficient for quantitative spontaneous indium transfer from the lower indium sulfides or for the transport of elemental indium. A major reason for this is that the vapor phase over indium and its lower sulfides is dominated by monohalides. Impossible under conventional experimental conditions, chemical vapor transport can be achieved by diluting indium with an inert substance, e.g., gold. It is shown that the vapor transport of indium is possible in systems of the form indium sulfide-indium chloride vapor-charge (Au-In) and that chloride vapor transport can be used to nondestructively control the composition of indium sulfides. The transport process is shown to be selective and reversible. Conditions are ...
2006-01-01
Theory of resonance conversion is presented. Being a natural extension of the traditional internal conversion into the subthreshold area, resonance conversion in a number of cases strongly affects the nuclear processes. Moreover, concentrating the transition strength on the narrow bands corresponding to the spectral atomic lines, it offers a unique tool capable of accelerating nuclear decay rates. Furthermore, along with the conventional nonradiative process of nuclear excitation through NEET and its reverse, TEEN, resonance conversion offers an appropriate mathematics for consideration of a number of cross-invariant processes involving both nuclei and electrons: excitation and deexcitation of the nuclei by hyperfine magnetic field, nuclear spin mixing, hyperfine interaction and magnetic anomalies in the atomic spectra, collisional nuclear excitation via ...
2008-01-01
In work investigations of process vacuum distillation of zinc with application of getter filters are submitted. requirements to getter materials for clearing Zn, in particular, from gas impurities and carbon (impurities of interstitial) in an interval of working temperatures of distillation (450...550 degree C) are formulated. Technological parameters of process refinement of zinc with use modernized distillation devices with getter filter are determined. Efficiency of application getter filter from alloy Zr (51)-Fe (49) mas.% is experimentally shown for refining Zn. The results of experimental researches on clearing Zn are given
2001-01-01
The international monitoring system, which permits comprehensive observation of airborne radionuclides within the universal test-ban treaty by analyzing aerosol samples and xenon in 80 points of radionuclide stations network is described. The network structure assures the detection of a 1 kt or higher nuclear explosion within 10 days after it with a 90% probability. For aerosol stations the minimal determined concentration for 140Ba shall be less than 10-30 muBq m-3, while for 133Xe at the stations for noble gases determination - less than 1 mBq m-3. The stations communicate the data obtained via communication satellites to the International information center in Vienna, where the spectra are analyzed and systematized
1985-01-01
The role of surface in radiation-induced processes for polycrystal azides of silver, lead and cadmium as a result of X radiation (150 keV) and gamma-radiation (60Co) with the dose rate 5-10 Gy/s, is studied. It is ascertained, that particles of radiolytic metal are formed around large surface macrodefects, and radiolytic nitrogen is partially evolved in the environment and partially is retained by crystal lattice, forming internal cavities of azide radiolysis in cation sublattice is localized at the azide-radiolytic metal interface, and in anion sublattice - in near ...
1990-01-01
Induction of prophage in lysogenic cultures, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (strain PA01(PM63)) and Escherichia coli K-12 (strain AB1157 (lambda) pKM101), was proposed as a test for biological indication of gamma-irradiation with relatively low doses. Sufficient resolving power (the sensitivity threshold of the method was 0.25 to 0.5 Gy) and relative simplicity of the practical use of the method were demonstrated. Within the dose range from 0.25 to 10 Gy, the relationship between the value of the propage induction and radiation dose was linear
1994-01-01
The efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy under conditions of hyperbaric oxygenation with a reduced radiation dose was studied. Methods of functionally sparing operations for laryngeal cancer stages 3-4 after preparative radiotherapy were improved. Nine new modifications of such operations are suggested. Reduction of the dose of preoperative gamma beam irradiation under conditions of hyperbaric oxygenation from 33 to 23.1 Gy helped shorten the duration of combined treatment, imrpoved wound healing, and created conditions for functionally sparing surgery
2008-01-01
Fast 8-MeV electrons were used for the heating and dry distillation of hydrolytic lignin. The resulting tar differed in composition from that of the conventional dry distillation and was composed primarily of methoxyphenols. Guaiacol and creosol were the prevalent components in the fraction with the boiling range 80-235 deg C. It was shown that the tar effectively inhibits the thermal polymerization of styrene, with the inhibiting activity being higher than that of the commercial inhibitors Agidol 1 and Agidol 2. In the presence of 0.025 wt % tar, the induction period of the thermal polymerization of styrene at 120 deg C was at least 120 min
1988-01-01
Methods of performance of unified cholecystograhy per os were developed on the basis of the results of X-ray and ultrasonic investigations of the gall bladder in 168 children. A method of contrast medium dosage to raise the informative value of cholecystography was proposed. A procedure of taking pictures with a patient lying in a prone position, an X-ray tube being turned in accordance with an angle of gall bladder inclination to the anterior abdominal wall, was worked out, making it possible to detect, with a high degree of reliability, the most common development defects of the gall bladder and to define its true sizes on the basis of X-ray findings
1999-01-01
An analysis of hormonal changes in the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident consequences, which promote the metabolic syndrome X development, was carried out on the base of clinical and experimental data. The system insulin-glucose, the mechanisms of insulinresistance and gyperinslinemia forming, the pathogenetical role of hyperinsulinemia interaction with others hormomes, some aspects of hormone - receptor interaction, an interconnection of hyperinsulinemia and vascular pathology, peculiarities of radiobiological stress as a non-classic adaptive reaction, which frequently resulting with a pathology, were discussed in the article
2006-01-01
Some n-type semiconductor metal oxide sensors based on WO3 and In2O3 were studied in detecting unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) vapors. The sensors are highly sensitive to the presence of UDMH vapors in air at concentrations equal to or lower than the maximum permissible concentration. They have short response and relaxation times in detecting UDMH vapors in air. It was found that when ammonia was present in air in concentrations comparable to those of UDMH, it did not affect the electrophysical properties of the semiconductor sensors
2010-01-01
Protein crystals contain two different types of interfaces: biologically relevant ones, observed in protein-protein complexes and oligomeric proteins, and nonspecific ones, corresponding to crystal lattice contacts. Because of the increasing complexity of the objects being tackled in structural biology, distinguishing biological contacts from crystal contacts is not always a trivial task and can lead to wrong interpretation of macromolecular structures. We devised an approach (CRK, core-rim Ka/Ks ratio) for distinguishing biologically relevant interfaces from nonspecific ones. Given a protein-protein interface, CRK finds a set of homologs to the sequences of the proteins involved in the interface, retrieves and aligns the corresponding coding sequences, on which it carries out a residue-by...
2001-01-01
The survey is devoted to the theory of oscillating motion of a band particle or particlelike excitation in a homogeneous external field, so-called Bloch oscillations. It is explained that the condition for such a motion is the presence of two facts: a classical equation of the motion determining the time dependence of the particle momentum under the action of external fields (dp/dt=F), and a band character of the energy spectrum of the particle, supposing a periodic dependence of the particle energy on the momentum (or quasimomentum): epsilon=epsilon(p) =epsilon(p+p0), where p0 is a period in the p-space which appears naturally when one describes the motion in a spatially periodical structure (lattice). Quasiclassical and quantum descriptions of the Bloch oscillations are proposed. Since there is no ...
1991-01-01
An assumption is confirmed that the directed effect on the processes of subcellular organelle assembly can be one of the approaches to the modification of radiation damage. It is shown that total cell death rate is conditioned by the effect of toxic compounds (preparations of colchicine, phalloidine and taxol), and by radiobiological effects. It seems that the status of microtubules and microfilaments as integral structures, their organization in 3D cell space, level of different posttranslational modifications of cytoscheleton proteins may be of s-quipicant importance for the realization of the programme of interphase and reproductive death of irradiated cells
Active Sites model for the B-Matrix Approach
2010-06-25
This paper continues on the work of the B-Matrix approach in hebbian learning proposed by Dr. Kak. It reports the results on methods of improving the memory retrieval capacity of the hebbian neural network which implements the B-Matrix approach. Previously, the approach to retrieving the memories from the network was to clamp all the individual neurons separately and verify the integrity of these memories. Here we present a network with the capability to identify the "active sites" in the network during the training phase and use these "active sites" to generate the memories retrieved from these neurons. Three methods are proposed for obtaining the update order of the network from the proximity matrix when multiple neurons are to be clamped. We then present a comparison between the new methods to the classical case and also among the methods themselves.
1984-01-01
It is shown that as a result of a structural breakdown, a linear collector may be identified as an element in a gas extracting enterprise (GDP) model. A mathematical model is acquired of the movement of the gas along the intraoil field collector as applied to the configuration of the Urenga gas condensate deposit. Algorithms are cited for rating the parameters of the gas stream for a single nonuniform fiber of the collector and for several nonuniform fibers connected by connectors and operating as a result of this as a unified hydraulic system. An algorithm for identifying the coefficient of hydraulic resistance both for the elementary sector of a pipeline and for a complex gas conduit system is cited on the basis of the use of a regular algorithmic method of adaption for determinated problems.
1997-01-01
The interaction of vanadium(5), molybdenum, and tungsten with 5-chloro-2-hydroxythiophenol (CHTP) was systemetically studied, and the optimum conditions for the formation and solvent extraction of mixed-ligand complexes were found. The constituent ratios in the complexes were found to be M:CHTP = 1:2. Vanadium(5) forms a mixed-ligand compound with CHTP and 4-chloro-2,6-bis(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)phenol. Extraction-photometry procedures for determining vanadium(5), molybdenum, and tungsten with the use of CHTP were developed. The procedures suggested outperform the curently available procedures in the main metrological characteristics
The Hubble law as a kinematic outcome of the space-time conformal geometry
2010-01-01
The description of the cosmological expansion and its possible local manifestations as a pure kinematic effects of the space-time conformal geometry is given. The explicit form of the conformal deformation of time is established. The expression de pound ning the cosmological distance in the form of simple function on the red shift is obtained. By coupling it with the relativistic formula for the longitudinal Doppler effect, the explicit analytic expression for the Hubble law is obtained. The expression generalizing the standard Hubble law reproduces the experimentally observed phenomenon treated conventionally as a Dark Energy manifestation. The expression for conformal time deformation in the small time limit leads to the quadratic time nonlinearity. Being applied to describe the location-type experiments, this predicts the existence of the universal uniformly ...
The Genius of Science: A Portrait Gallery of TwentiethCentury Physicists
This book is a collection of biographies of seventeen 20th century physicists. The author, who was personally acquainted with the scientists, emphasizes the importance of recognizing that the history of the science relates to the history of the scientist. Therefore, while each scientific achievement has individual importance, it is related to other scientific accomplishments because it influenced other scientists and their work. Insightful biographies are provided on the following: Niels Bohr, Max Born, Paul Dirac, Albert Einstein, Mitchell Feigenbaum, Res Jost, Oskar Klein, Hendrik Kramers, Tsung Dao Lee, Chen Ning Yang, John Von Neumann, Wolfgang Pauli, Isidor I. Rabi, Robert Serber, George Uhlenbeck, Viktor Weisskopf, and Eugene Wigner.
Simulation of the Exophthalmia Reduction using a Finite Element Model of the Orbital Soft Tissues
2006-06-26
This paper proposes a computer-assisted system for the surgical treatment of exophthalmia. This treatment is classically characterized by a de-compression of the orbit, by the mean of an orbital walls osteotomy. The plan-ning of this osteotomy consists in defining the size and the location of the de-compression hole. A biomechanical model of the orbital soft tissues and its in-teractions with the walls are provided here, in order to help surgeons in the definition of the osteotomy planning. The model is defined by a generic Finite Element poro-elastic mesh of the orbit. This generic model is automatically adapted to the morphologies of four patients, extracted from TDM exams. Four different FE models are then generated and used to simulate osteotomies in the maxillary or ethmoid sinuses regions. Heterogeneous results are observed, with different backwards movements of the ocular globe according to the size and/or the location of the hole.
Professor C. N. Yang and Statistical Mechanics
2010-10-12
Professor Chen Ning Yang has made seminal and influential contributions in many different areas in theoretical physics. This talk focuses on his contributions in statistical mechanics, a field in which Professor Yang has held a continual interest for over sixty years. His Master's thesis was on a theory of binary alloys with multi-site interactions, some 30 years before others studied the problem. Likewise, his other works opened the door and led to subsequent developments in many areas of modern day statistical mechanics and mathematical physics. He made seminal contributions in a wide array of topics, ranging from the fundamental theory of phase transitions, the Ising model, Heisenberg spin chains, lattice models, and the Yang-Baxter equation, to the emergence of Yangian in quantum groups. These topics and their ramifications will be discussed in this talk.
Development and characterization of two mutants with colored brown rice induced by gamma ray
2006-01-01
Two mutants of colored brown rice, RK1722-1 and RK1722-2, were developed from K1722, a japonica restorer line of three line hybrid rice, by screening after 350 Gy 60Co gamma-ray irradiation. As compared with the parental line K1722, the mutants displayed insignificant decreases on growth vigor and productivity. F1 hybrids of CMS line Ning 67A with the two mutants and the parental line performed similarly, except that the F1 from the mutants showed colored brown rice. Genetic analysis indicated that the two colored rice mutants were controlled by a single dominant gene. The feasibility of color rice breeding using mutant technology was also discussed. (authors)
Breast cancer risk reduction and membrane-bound catechol o-methyltransferase genetic polymorphisms
2008-01-01
Yuan Ji, Janet Olson, Jianping Zhang, Michelle Hildebrandt, Liewei Wang, James Ingle, Zachary Fredericksen, Thomas Sellers, William Miller, J. Michael Dixon, Hiltrud Brauch, Michel Eichelbaum, Christina Justenhoven, Ute Hamann, Yon Ko, Thomas Brüning, Jenny Chang-Claude, Shan Wang-Gohrke, Daniel Schaid and Richard Weinshilboum Publisher: Amer Assoc Cancer Research Contributor: School of Medical Sciences : Pharmacology Other identifier: Cancer Research, 2008; 68(14):5997-6005; 0008-5472; 0020084528; 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-0043 Language: en
2009-01-01
Structure, stability and possibility of being chromium complexes with triallyl borane B(CH2-CH=CH2)3 in case of its coordination by Cr atom along three of its binary bonds are discussed. Complexes LCr(CO)3, where L=(C3H5)3CH, (C3H5)3B, (C3H5)3BNMe3, [(C3H5)3BF]-, (C2H4)3, C6H6, (C3H5)3CPh, (C3H5)3B(NC5H5), have been studied. Calculation have been conducted in DFT approximations PBE/3z and BP86/TZ2P. Calculated dissociation energies of the studied complexes in ...
2003-01-01
Technical conditions are evaluated of bearing and fencing structures of deaerator building with considering additional in-situ investigation data and results of estimate of integrated spatial model of Unit B and deaerator. Model estimate is made of carry-over of dust that can rise after collapsing of bearing structures of upper tiet of deaerator framing when southern zone of localizing case will be open. Volumetric concentration of radioactive aerosols and surface contamination of local zone ground,on 'Ukryttia' industrial site and within 10 - and 30 - km zone surrounding ChNPP, were defined
2007-01-01
A facility is described that allows generation of long current pulses with a virtually constant amplitude by a superconducting inductive energy storage with a 5-MJ energy content. The design of this facility ensures the possibility of changing the parameters of an output current pulse by varying the inductances of the magnetic system sections and their electromagnet coupling. The electric insulation of the storage coil can withstand a voltage higher than 200 kV, and a special system of multielectrode current leads can transfer a power of up to 250 MW at a 1.3 kA current from the cold zone (4.2 K) into the warm (300 K) zone almost without energy losses. The current can be increased to 10 kA by changing the connection of the facility sections
1976-01-01
Substantiation is offered for broad possibilities of using the radio-geochemical method in solving problems concerned with petro- and ore-genesis, forecasting, and exploration of various deposits. An examination is made of fundamental research results in this area. An identification is made of the behavioral characteristics of radioelements in products of basaltoid magmatism of the Pre-Paleozoic and Lower Paleozoic, with which time period deposits of molybdenum-copper and pyrite-polymetallic formations are coincident, and in granitoids of the Paleozoic and particularly the Permian age, with which deposits of the rare metal greisen formation are associated, and in minerals and ores of polymetallic and iron-ore deposits in connection with their genesis. Possibilities of using the radiogeochemical method for forecasting and deep exploration of the indicated deposits were established. Conclusions were drawn on the formation mechanism and the metamorphism of several deposits. An examination was made of indications of hypergenic migration of radioelements with respect to the content and isotopic composition of uranium and thorium in waters, rock, soils, and bottom sediments. A description is made of methods for analyzing uranium and thorium and their isotopic composition in natural formations. 227 references, 53 figures, 51 tables.
1994-01-01
Models for the chemical bonding int he transition metal-carbon subnetwork of the ternary late transition metal carbides LnCoC (Ln = lanthanide), Ln2ReC2, Th2NiC2, Ln2FeC4, Ln3MC4 (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir), Ln4NiC5, Er8Rh5C12 are reviewed. Carbide ligands present in such materials include terminal C4- in Th2NiC2 and Y2ReC2, mu2-C4- in YCoC and Y2ReC2 similar to the central allene carbon atom, 1,2-bidging C24- in Sc3CoC4 formally derived from ethylene, mu3-bridging C24-in ...
2009-01-01
Seven different cultivars (Taze vaharman, Gokjek, Arap hatlı, Turkmen vaharmanı, Torlı payendeke, Yazkı bisek, Gızıl gulabı) of honeydew melons (Cucumis melo L.) from Turkmenistan were processed to a dried traditional product known as 'kavun kakı' in order to evaluate the most suitable cultivar for drying process. The chemical composition (dry matter, crude oil, crude protein, crude fibre, energy, ash, water-soluble solids, total sugar, invert sugar, titratable acidity, pH and mineral contents) of the products was determined. The microbiological load (total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria and yeasts-moulds) of the samples were also evaluated. There were no significant differences between the odour, taste and texture scores of all the cult...
1998-01-01
Radiosensitizing activity of analogue of the 11-deoxy-PGE series with malonic or heterocyclic fragments in omega-chain was studied. In experiments with HeLa cell cultures of uterine cervix tumour it was revealed that one of prostanoids - methyl ether of 6-oxo-6-[2,2-ethylenedioxy-5- (di methoxycarbonylmethyl)-cyclopent-1-yl]-hexanoic acid - caused practically significant increase of irradiated tumour cells death, in efficiency one compared well with metronidazole. The roles of 7-oxocarboxyalkylic alpha-chain and malonic ester fragment in omega-chain in capacity of pharmacophores responsible for increase of tumour cells sensitivity to gamma-irradiation at relatively small doses were detected. It was established that studied prostanoid in concentration 10-6 mole/l led to saturating effect, when it was ...
2007-01-01
Experimental conditions permitting identification of fundamental characteristics of ion hydration in aqueous electrolyte solutions, i.e. the value of enthalpy change in hydration reactions of ions and ionic clusters, by means of mass spectroscopic method of field evaporation of ions from solutions (FEIS) were studied. Using the FEIS method the values of enthalpy change in hydration reactions of ions and ionic clusters 7Li+(H2O)n (n 1-4) in LiBr aqueous solution have been identified experimentally for the first time. Currently, it proved impossible to obtain the results using any other experimental method
Genetic diversity of weedy red rice (Oryza sativa) in Arkansas, USA
2010-01-01
Shivrain VK, Burgos NR, Agrama HA, Lawton-Rauh A, Lu B, Sales MA, Boyett V, Gealy DR &Moldenhauer KAK (2010). Genetic diversity of weedy red rice (Oryza sativa) in Arkansas, USA. Weed Research50, 289-302. Summary Weedy red rice (Oryza sativa) is a problematic weed in cultivated rice. About 50% of US rice is produced in Arkansas and 60% of these fields have some red rice infestation. Red rice populations are morphologically and phenologically diverse. We hypothesise that red rice in Arkansas has high genetic diversity, which underlies its wide phenotypic diversity, and that some alleles from cultivated rice have been introgressed into red rice during more than a century of coexistence. We tested 137 red rice accessions from four ecological zones in Arkansas and 36 cultivars that have been g...
2004-01-01
Paper presents the measurement results of neutron field characteristics in the experimental halls of a number of fast reactors, in particular, the BR-1 one, at various distances from the reactor core centre. The neutron fields were measured by means of neutron activation method using activation detectors and detectors with polyethylene moderators. The CASCADE-620 program was used to calculate neutron spectra within the investigated fields of reactors. Paper presents the qualitative characteristics (data on leakage neutrons) of nuclear reactions within the investigated fields of neutrons of nuclear reactors depending on distance from the reactor core centre and presents the calculation results of the neutron spectra and the absorbed dose rate. The average energy of neutrons within the measured spectra in the BR-1 reactor was revealed to reduce from 1.29 MeV at 0.2 m ...
2008-01-01
One studied the ion exchange behaviour of Hf and Pb as the homologs of 104 (Rf) and 114 elements respectively, as well as of some actinides in the solutions of the hydrohalogen acids depending on the nature and the concentration of the acid, the solution composition and the nature of the ion exchanger. One determined the optimal conditions for the extraction, the separation and the concentration of the traces of the trans- actinide elements from the Hf, the HCl and HBr solutions. Using the multiple periodic extraction of 211Pb from 227Ac mother radionuclide in the HBr diluted solutions as an example one elaborated the procedure to ensure the on-line extraction of 114 element and of the superheavy elements with Z=108-116 and their identification on the basis of the long-lived decay products. On the basis of the comparative analysis of the ion exchange ...
1995-01-01
The concept of chim-UNIFAC has been realized, i.e. the UNIFAC model was complemented with allowance made for formation of chemical compounds on the basis of the law on active masses, which is necessary for correct description of the systems containing highly polar components being able to polymerize and form chemical compounds. Data on activity coefficients for 16 binary systems solvent (A)-polar substance (B) (B=tributylphosphate (TBP), di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid and their complexes with uranyl, A=hexane, chloroform, CCl4, and benzeno) were processed. It is found that compounds B2 (TBP), B4 (uranyl nitrate disolvate), BA and BA2 are formed, thermodynamic formation constants of the compounds being ascertained. 15 refs., 5 figs., 7 tabs
2008-01-01
The density functional theory in the PBE approximation was used to explore the geometry and electronic structure of sumanene C21H12 and its five derivatives C21H12R6 (R = H, F, Cl, Br, and CN). The R groups in C21H12R6 molecules are attached to carbon atoms in alpha positions with respect to the central six-membered ring. The possibility of the formation of C21H12R6 eta6-pi complexes with Cr(C6H6), Cr(CO)3, Mo(C6H6), and Mo(CO)3 was discussed. The relative stability of these complexes was evaluated. The attachment of M(C6H6) and M(CO)3 (M = Cr, Mo) to sumanene ...
1993-01-01
It is shown that alpha-phosphate of zirconium (alpha-Zr(HPO4)2centre dotH2O), having a laminated structure, is proton conductor, its conductivity being too low for practical use in electrochemical devices. Increase in conductivity can be attained by% 1) preparation of membranes with oriented particles (film of zirconium phosphate), 2) introduction of appropriate organic molecules (especially of hydrazone or pyrazole and 3) synthesis of organic derivatives containing acid ionized groups between layers. The best results were obtained for alkyl-phenosphonates of zirconium containing -SO3H-groups. The conductivity amounted to 10-2 Ohm-1 cm-1 at 100 deg C and relative humidity of 60%. Thin-film zirconium phosphate is already used in the ...
2001-01-01
A rapid, simple, selective, and sensitive method for the trace determination of zirconium has been developed based on the reaction of 3-hydroxy-2-(2'-thienyl)-4H-chromon-4-on in an hydrochloric acid medium to form a yellow colored complex which is rendered water soluble by the micellar action of Triton X-100 and measured at 415 nm. Most of the metal ions do not interfere with the determination. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0-2,0 mug/ml and the molar absorptivity of the complex is 2.73x104 l mol-1 and Sandell's sensitivity is found to be 0.0034 mug cm-2. The method has been applied to the determination of zirconium in various samples
Full Text Available.BackgroundWheat is an allopolyploid plant that harbors a huge, complex genome. Therefore, accumulation of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for wheat is becoming particularly important for functional genomics and molecular breeding. We prepared a comprehensive collection of ESTs from the various tissues that develop during the wheat life cycle and from tissues subjected to stress. We also examined their expression profiles in silico. As full-length cDNAs are indispensable to certify the collected ESTs and annotate the genes in the wheat genome, we performed a systematic survey and sequencing of the full-length cDNA clones. This sequence information is a valuable genetic resource for functional genomics and will enable carrying out comparative genomics in cereals.ResultsAs part of the functional genomics and development of genomic wheat resources, we have generated a collection of full-length cDNAs from common wheat. By grouping the ESTs of recombinant clones randomly selected from the full-length cDNA library, we were able to sequence 6,162 independent clones with high accuracy. About 10% of the clones were wheat-unique genes, without any counterparts within the DNA database. Wheat clones that showed high homology to those of rice were selected in order to investigate their expression patterns in various tissues throughout the wheat life cycle and in response to abiotic-stress treatments. To assess the variability of genes that have evolved differently in wheat and rice, we calculated the substitution rate (Ka/Ks) of the counterparts in wheat and rice. Genes that were preferentially expressed in certain tissues or treatments had higher Ka/Ks values than those in other tissues and treatments, which suggests that the genes with the higher variability expressed in these tissues is under adaptive selection.ConclusionWe have generated a high-quality full-length cDNA resource for common wheat, which is essential for continuation of the ongoing curation and annotation of the wheat genome. The data for each clone's expression in various tissues and stress treatments and its variability in wheat and rice as a result of their diversification are valuable tools for functional genomics in wheat and for comparative genomics in cereals.
Tunneling effect in a polymer/carbon nanotube nanocomposite strain sensor
2008-01-01
A strain sensor has been fabricated from a polymer nanocomposite with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) fillers. The piezoresistivity of this nanocomposite strain sensor has been investigated based on an improved three-dimensional (3D) statistical resistor network model incorporating the tunneling effect between the neighboring carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and a fiber reorientation model. The numerical results agree very well with the experimental measurements. As compared with traditional strain gauges, much higher sensitivity can be obtained in the nanocomposite sensors when the volume fraction of CNT is close to the percolation threshold. For a small CNT volume fraction, weak nonlinear piezoresistivity is observed both experimentally and from numerical simulation. The tunneling effect is considered to be the principal mechanism of the sensor under small strains. Publisher: Elsevier Relation: DOI:10.1016/j.actamat.2008.02.030; Hu, Ning and Karube, Yoshifumi and Yan, Cheng and Masuda, Zen and Fukunaga, Hisao (2008) Tunneling effect in a polymer/carbon nanotube nanocomposite strain sensor. Acta Materialia, 56(13). pp. 2929-2936. Format: application/pdf Rights: Copyright 2008 Elsevier; Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher
We introduce the Micro-Groove Detector (MGD), a new type of position-sensitive gas proportional counter produced using advanced printed circuit board (PCB) technology. The MGD is based on a thin kapt on foil, clad with gold-plated copper on both sides. An array of micro-strips at a typical pitch of 200um is defined on the top metal layer. Using as a protection mask the metal left after the patter ning, charge amplifying micro-grooves are etched into the kapton layer. These end on a second micro-strip pattern which is defined on the bottom metal plane. The two arrays of micro-strips can have a n arbitrary relative orientation and so can be used for read-out to obtain 2-D positional information. First results from our systematic assessment of this device are reported: gas gain > 15000, rat e capability above 10^6mm-2s-1, energy resolution 22% at 5.4 keV, no significant charging or aging effects up to 5mC/cm, full primary charge collection efficiency even at high drift fields.
Regulation of human stem cell research in Australia
2009-01-01
Australia is currently well placed to contribute to the global growth of human stem cell research. However, as the science has progressed, authorities have had to deal with the ongoing challenges of regulating such a fast moving field of scientific endeavour. Australia’s past and current approach to regulating the use of embryos in human embryonic stem cell research provides an insight into how Australia may continue to adapt to future regulatory challenges presented by human stem cell research. In the broader context, a number of issues have been identified that may impact upon the success of future human stem cell research in Australia. Publisher: Humana Press Inc. Relation: DOI:10.1007/s12015-009-9055-3; Then, Shih-Ning (2009) Regulation of human stem cell research in Australia. Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, 5(1). pp. 1-5. Format: application/pdf Rights: Copyright 2009 Springer
Modern Foreign Languages: A Refereed Journal of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, 2002.
These four issues contain the following articles, written in Chinese (with one exception): "Economy Principles and Chinese Verbless Sentences" (Sze-Wing Tang); "Multiple Wh-Question and the Functional Interpretation of Wh-Phrases" (Wu Ya-Quing); "Towards the Meaning-Text Model and its Function of Lexical Definition" (Zhang Yi-Hua); "Existential Construction and the Development of Case Theory" (Ziong Zhong-ru); "Tentative Reflections on Cognitive Pragmatics" (Ran Yong-Ping); "Continuum" (Liu Zheng-Guang); "Causal Attribution and its Conceptions by EFL Learners at the Tertiary Level" (Qin Ziao-Quing); "An Overview of the Research of Forensic Psycholinguistics" (Du Jin-Bang); "A Framework for Evaluating Empirical Research in Second Language Acquisition" (Wu Xu-Dong); "Fuzzy Marking" (Zhang Wen-Zhong and Guo Jing-Jing); "The Genetic Properties of Human Languages" (Yang Cai-Mei and Ning Cun-Yan); "The Theory of Falsification and Linguist Investigations" (
Modelling Impacts of Urban Freight Terminal Location Decisions
2008-01-01
This paper presents the results of research into the evaluation of alternative scenarios for freight terminal location in an urban area in Australia. The research combines the use of a strategic transport model for overall freight demand forecasting, with cost assessment of the specific impacts of locating future terminals in selected areas. Outputs of the model were used to evaluate the impacts of urban freight terminal location decisions on all traffic in the road network. The work includes freight trip generation, using strategic transport modelling software (VISUM) to forecast future patterns of urban freight flows, calibration of the model, and option testing using a case-study in South East Queensland to predict the transport cost impacts of several locations for intermodal terminals. Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Contributor: Mao, Baohua; Tian, Zongzhong; Huang, Haijun; Gao, Ziyou Relation: Sirikijpanichkul, Ackchai and Ferreira, Luis (2008) Modelling Impacts of Urban Freight Terminal Location Decisions. In: Sixth Intentional Conference on Traffic and Transportation Studies (ICTTS2008), August 5-7, 2008, NanNing (China). Format: application/pdf Rights: Copyright 2008 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
Inexact uniformization method for computing transient distributions of Markov chains
2007-01-01
The uniformization method (also known as randomization) is a numerically stable algorithm for computing transient distributions of a continuous time Markov chain. When the solution is needed after a long run or when the convergence is slow, the uniformization method involves a large number of matrix-vector products. Despite this, the method remains very popular due to its ease of implementation and its reliability in many practical circumstances. Because calculating the matrix-vector product is the most time-consuming part of the method, overall efficiency in solving large-scale problems can be significantly enhanced if the matrix-vector product is made more economical. In this paper, we incorporate a new relaxation strategy into the uniformization method to compute the matrix-vector products only approximately. We analyze the error introduced by these inexact matrix-vector products and discuss strategies for re. ning the accuracy of the relaxation while reducing the execution cost. Numerical experiments drawn from computer systems and biological systems are given to show that significant computational savings are achieved in practical applications. Publisher: Siam Publications Coverage: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
Field induced fluctuations in percolation in granular-heterogeneous La-Ag-Mn-O/ MnO
Several materials in the granular form, such as transition metals and manganese perovskites, show a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) that is attributed to field induced percolation effects [1]. We discuss here the observation of GMR in the solid solution La1-xAgxMnO3 (x = 0.05 - 0.50), possibly due to magnetic field induced fluctuation in percolation (MFP). Samples with x in steps of 0.05 were fabricated by the sol-gel method. We found Ag disassociation and run-off when the sample sintering temperature exceeded 800^o, resulting in a composite of La-Ag-Mn-O and manganese oxide. Analysis of x=0.35, for example, revealed a composite composition of (La0.926Ag0.074MnO3)0.698(MnO2)0..302. Studies on such samples showed GMR that could be attributed to field-induced enhancement in percolation [1]. [1] Ning Zhang, Weiping Ding, and Wei Zhong et al., Phys Rev B 56, 8139 (1997). -Work supported by the National Science Foundation (DMR-0302254)
Effect of pouring temperature on thixotropic microstructure formation of AZ91
2007-01-01
The effect of pouring temperature on thixotropic microstructure of AZ91 was investigated. The results show that the pouring temperature has a pronounced effect both on microstructural morphology and grain size. By decreasing the pouring temperature, the morphology of grains changes from coarse dendritic to fine dendritic structure. The fine dendritic structure that was obtained at low pouring temperature developed into a globular structure with a grain size of 60 pun, if the AZ91 was partially remelted and held isothermally at the semisolid state (575 degrees C). On the other hand, if the alloy was poured at a high superheat, the particles were irregular and interconnected with a grain size of 180 mu m even after 20 ruin of isothermal holding Publisher: Nonferrous Metals Society China Other identifier: Ning, Zhiliang and Wu, Peilian and Wang, Hao and Cao, Fuyang and Sun, Jianfei (2007) Effect of pouring temperature on thixotropic microstructure formation of AZ91. Rare Metals, 26 (Sp. Iss.). pp. 180-184. ISSN 1001-0521
2005-01-01
Piezoelectric transducers are commonly used as strain actuators in the control of mechanical vibration. One control strategy, termed piezoelectric shunt damping, involves the connection of an electrical impedance to the terminals of a structurally bonded transducer. When, subject to deflection, charge generated in the transducer flows through the external impedance developing a counteractive voltage across the terminals. Many passive, nonlinear, and semiactive impedance designs have been proposed that maximize this counteractive effect. This paper introduces a new technique for the design and implementation of piezoelectric shunt impedances. By considering the transducer voltage and charge as inputs and outputs, the design problem is reduced to a standard linear regulator problem enabling the application of standard synthesis techniques such as LQG, H-2, and H-infinity. The resulting impedance is extensible to multitransducer systems, is unrestricted in structure, and is capable of minimizing an arbitrary performance objective. Experimental comparison to a resonant shunt circuit is carried out on a cantilever beam. Previous problems such as ad hoe tu ning, limited performance, and sensitivity to variation in structural resonance frequencies are significantly alleviated. Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Relation: IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Vol. 13, no. 1, p. 98-112 Other identifier: ISSN:1063-6536 Language: eng Rights: *
2010-01-15
The CIX detector is a direct converting hybrid pixel detector designed for medical X-ray imaging applications. Its de ning feature is the simultaneous operation of a photon counter as well as an integrator in every pixel cell. This novel approach o ers a dynamic range of more than five orders of magnitude, as well as the ability to directly obtain the average photon energy from the measured data. Several CIX 0.2 ASICs have been successfully connected to CdTe, CdZnTe and Si sensors. These detector modules were tested with respect to the imaging performance of the simultaneously counting and integrating concept under X-ray irradiation. Apart from a characterization of the intrinsic benefits of the CIX concept, the sensor performance was also investigated. Here, the two parallel signal processing concepts offer valuable insights into material related effects like polarization and temporal response. The impact of interpixel coupling effects like charge-sharing, Compton scattering and X-ray fluorescence was evaluated through simulations and measurements. (orig.)
2010-01-01
The CIX detector is a direct converting hybrid pixel detector designed for medical X-ray imaging applications. Its de ning feature is the simultaneous operation of a photon counter as well as an integrator in every pixel cell. This novel approach o ers a dynamic range of more than five orders of magnitude, as well as the ability to directly obtain the average photon energy from the measured data. Several CIX 0.2 ASICs have been successfully connected to CdTe, CdZnTe and Si sensors. These detector modules were tested with respect to the imaging performance of the simultaneously counting and integrating concept under X-ray irradiation. Apart from a characterization of the intrinsic benefits of the CIX concept, the sensor performance was also investigated. Here, the two parallel signal processing concepts offer valuable insights into material related effects like polarization ...
Application of ion implantation in stevia breeding
1999-01-01
Dry seed of stevia were implanted with 60-100 keV nitrogen ion and 75 keV carbon ion of various doses, and the effects of the composition and yield of stevioside were studied. The results showed that ion beam could induce variation in total stevioside yield and the composition of the plant. The best treatment was 75 keV nitrogen ion with 5 x 1014 N+/cm2, the stevioside yield and Rebaudioside A (R-A) content were increased by 4.74% and 14.08% respectively. The effects induced by implantation of carbon ion were higher than those induced by implantation of nitrogen ion. Effects of Feng1 x Ri Yuan and Ri Yuan x Feng2 are higher than those of Ji Ning and Feng2. Seven mutation lines were selected from the mutation progenies. The stevioside composition of these lines were previously improved. The results suggest a ...
Tomographic reconstruction of shock layer flows
2007-01-01
Abstract The tomographic reconstruction of supersonic flows faces two challenges. Firstly, techniques used in the past, such as the direct Fourier method (DFM) (Gottlieb and Gustafsson in On the direct Fourier method for computer tomography, 1998; Morton inTomographic imaging of supersonic flows, 1995) or various backprojection (Kak and Slaney in Principles of computerized tomographic imaging, vol. 33 in Classics in Applied Mathematics, 2001) techniques, have only been able to reconstruct areas of the flow which are upstream of any opaque objects, such as a model. Secondly, shock waves create sharp discontinuities in flow properties, which can be difficult to reconstruct both in position and in magnitude with limited data. This paper will present a reconstruction method, matrix inversion using ray-tracing and least squares conjugate gradient (MI-RLS), which uses geometric ray-tracing and a sparse matrix iterative solver Paige and Saunders in ACM Trans. Math. Softw. 8(1):43– 71, 1982) to overcome both of these challenges. It will be shown, through testing with a phantom object described in tomographic literature, that the results compare favourably to those produced by theDFMtechnique. Finally, the method will be used to reconstruct three-dimensional density fields from interferometric shock layer images, with good resolution. Publisher: Springer - Verlag Coverage: 2007-11-01T00:00:00Z
1997-12-31
Urban soils often have high concentrations of heavy metals. This is particularly true of the technogenic substrates often found in cities and industrial and trading estates. The aim of the present project was therefore to mitigate the deficits of our present knowledge on problems relating to heavy metals in technogenic substrates. The studies presented in the following were carried out in pursuit of the following tasks: determination of the total concentration and mobility of the elements Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni in 11 lead soil profiles from technogenic substrates in Rostock, Kiel, Eckernfjoerde and Halle/Saale; study of the dependence of heavy metal mobility on different soil characteristics (e.g. pH, clay, organic carbon, and total heavy metal content); recording of adsorption isotherms characterising the sorption and desorption behaviour of heavy metals; estimation of the heavy metal binding capacity of technogenic substrates following the method quoted by DVWK (1988) for heavy metals; and performance of percolation experiments on soil columns for deriving material transport parameters and of model calculations on heavy metal migration. [Deutsch] Urbane Boeden, besonders die in Staedten, Industrie- und Gewerbegebieten verbreitet lagernden technogenen Substrate, weisen oft hohe Schwermetallgehalte auf. Ziel dieses Projektes ist daher, Erkenntnisdefizite zur Schwermetallproblematik technogener Substrate zu verringern. Den nachfolgend dargestellten Untersuchungen liegt folgende Aufgabenstellung zugrunde: - Bestimmung der Gesamtgehalte und Mobilitaeten der Elemente Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn und Ni an 11 Leitprofilen aus technogenen Substraten in Rostock, Kiel, Eckernfoerde und Halle/Saale, - Untersuchung der Abhaengigkeit der Schwermetallmobilitaet von verschiedenen Bodenkennwerten (pH-Wert, Ton-, Corg-, Kalkgehalt, KAK, Schwermetall-Gesamtgehalt), - Aufnahme von Adsorptionsisothermen zur Kennzeichnung des Sorptions- und Desorptionsverhaltens von Schwermetallen, - Schaetzung des Schwermetallbindungsvermoegens technogener Substrate analog zum DVWK (1988) fuer unbelastete Boeden und - Durchfuehrung von Perkoalationsversuchen an Bodensaeulen zur Ableitung von Stofftransportparametern sowie Durchfuehrung von Modellrechnungen zur Schwermetallmigration. (orig.)
Identification and characterization of insect-specific proteins by genome data analysis
BackgroundInsects constitute the vast majority of known species with their importance including biodiversity, agricultural, and human health concerns. It is likely that the successful adaptation of the Insecta clade depends on specific components in its proteome that give rise to specialized features. However, proteome determination is an intensive undertaking. Here we present results from a computational method that uses genome analysis to characterize insect and eukaryote proteomes as an approximation complementary to experimental approaches.ResultsHomologs in common to Drosophila melanogaster, Anopheles gambiae, Bombyx mori, Tribolium castaneum, and Apis mellifera were compared to the complete genomes of three non-insect eukaryotes (opisthokonts) Homo sapiens, Caenorhabditis elegans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This operation yielded 154 groups of orthologous proteins in Drosophila to be insect-specific homologs; 466 groups were determined to be common to eukaryotes (represented by three opisthokonts). ESTs from the hemimetabolous insect Locust migratoria were also considered in order to approximate their corresponding genes in the insect-specific homologs. Stress and stimulus response proteins were found to constitute a higher fraction in the insect-specific homologs than in the homologs common to eukaryotes.ConclusionThe significant representation of stress response and stimulus response proteins in proteins determined to be insect-specific, along with specific cuticle and pheromone/odorant binding proteins, suggest that communication and adaptation to environments may distinguish insect evolution relative to other eukaryotes. The tendency for low Ka/Ks ratios in the insect-specific protein set suggests purifying selection pressure. The generally larger number of paralogs in the insect-specific proteins may indicate adaptation to environment changes. Instances in our insect-specific protein set have been arrived at through experiments reported in the literature, supporting the accuracy of our approach.
Finding Optimal Two-Qubit Decompositions of LOQC Circuits
2009-08-19
We use numerical optimization techniques [Uskov et al., Phys. Rev. A 79, 042326 (2009)] to find optimal implementations of generic linear-optical KLM-type two-qubit entangling gates, represented by generic points in the Weyl chamber of Khaneja's KAK' decomposition of the SU(4) group. We find that while any two-qubit controlled-U gate, including CNOT and CS, can be implemented using only two ancilla resources with success probability 0.05 < S <= 2/27, a generic SU(4) operation requires three unentangled ancilla photons. Our study indicates that single-shot implementation of a generic SU(4) gate using an integrated optical circuit offers an order of magnitude increase in the success probability and two-fold reduction in overhead ancilla resources compared to standard triple-CNOT and double-B gate decompositions. We find that the B gate, which is the most efficient deterministic gate for decomposing an arbitrary SU(4) transformation, has success probability close to 0.0072. In the context of probabilistic KLM-type transformations, this makes the B gate less efficient than the CNOT gate as a building block for arbitrary SU(4) transformations. Our results are consistent with previous work on the optimization of the Deutsch-Toffoli gate, where direct implementation of this three-qubit operation was shown to be four orders of magnitude more efficient than six-fold decomposition into CNOT gates [Ralph et al., Phys. Rev. A 75, 022313 (2 007); Uskov et al., Phys. Rev. A 79, 042326 (2009)].
1997-01-01
Mononuclear complexes (CO)5M(Te2Ph2) where M=W(1) or Cr(2), characterized by X-ray structural analysis are produced by means of photochemical reaction of equimolar quantities of M(CO)6 (M=W, Cr) and Ph2Te2 in THF or by (CO)5M(thf) interaction with Ph2Te2. In 1 and 2 W and Cr atoms are coordinated with one Te atom (W-Te 2.810 (1), Cr-Te 2.679(3)A) which leads to an insufficient stretching of Te-Te bonds (up to 2.714 (1) and 2.737(2) A respectively) as compared to 2.712 A in a free Te2Ph2. According to 125Te spectroscopy NMR data, coordination of a single Cr(CO)5 group in 2 leads to a great singlet shift from both Te nuclei to a weak field relative to the signal from Te2Ph2 in contrast to a great ...
2008-01-01
Rhodacarborane (eta5-C9H2Me5)Rh(7,8-C2B9H11) (2) was prepared by the reaction of iodide [(eta5-C9H2Me5)RhI2]2 (1) or acetonitrile complex [(eta5-C9H2Me5)Rh(MeCN)3]2+ with Tl[Tl(eta-7,8-C2B9H11)]. Cation three-level complex with bridge boratebenzene ligand [Cp*Fe(mu-eta:eta-C5H3Me2BMe)Rh(eta5-C9H2Me5)]2+ (3) was synthesized by the reaction of nitromethane solvate ...
BACKGROUND: There are currently limited data on the relationships between resting perfusion abnormalities, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, and exercise capacity as defined by peak VO(2) and 6-minute walk test in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced LVEF. Furthermore, the association between resting perfusion abnormalities and left ventricular dyssynchrony is currently unknown. This article addresses the Heart Failure and A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise TraiNing (HF-ACTION) gated SPECT imaging (gSPECT) substudy baseline results. METHODS: HF-ACTION was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of aerobic exercise training versus usual care in 2,331 stable patients with LVEF of < or = 35% and NYHA class II to IV HF symptoms treated with optimal medical therapy. Subjects enrolled in the HF-ACTION substudy underwent resting Tc-99m tetrofosmin gSPECT at baseline (n = 240). Images were evaluated for extent and severity of perfusion abnormalities using a 17-segment and a 5-degree gradation severity score (summed rest score [SRS]). Left ventricular function and dyssynchrony were assessed using validated available commercial software. RESULTS: The average age of patients enrolled was 59, 69% were male, 63% were white, and 33% were African American. Of the 240 participants, 129 (54%) were ischemic and 111 (46%) were nonischemic in etiology. The median LVEF by gSPECT for the entire cohort was 26%. Among the nuclear variables, there was a modest correlation between LVEF and SRS (r = -0.31, P < .0001) and there were stronger correlations between phase SD and SRS (r = 0.66, P < .0001) as well as phase SD and LVEF (r = -0.50, P < .0001). Patients with NYHA class III symptoms had more severe and significant degrees of dyssynchrony (median phase SD 54 degrees ) than those with NYHA class II symptoms (median phase SD 39 degrees, P = .001). Patients with an ischemic etiology had a higher SRS (P < .0001) and significantly more dyssynchrony (P < .0001) than those who were nonischemic. However, there was no difference in LVEF or objective measures of exercise capacity between these groups. With respect to peak VO(2), there was a weak correlation with LVEF (r = 0.18, P = .006) and no correlation with SRS (r = -0.04, P = 0.59) or with dyssynchrony (r = -0.13, P = .09). A weak but statistically significant correlation between SRS and 6-minute walk was observed (r = -0.15, P = .047). CONCLUSIONS: Gated SPECT imaging can provide important information in patients with HF due to severe LV dysfunction including quantitative measures of global systolic function, perfusion, and dyssynchrony. These measurements are modestly but significantly related to symptom severity and objective measures of exercise capacity.
Web Mining Model and Its Applications for Information Gathering
2004-01-01
Web mining is used to automatically discover and extract information from Web-related data sources such as documents, log, services, and user profiles. Although standard data mining methods may be applied for mining on the Web, many specific algorithms need to be developed and applied for various purposes of Web based information processing in multiple Web resources, effectively and efficiently. In the paper, we propose an abstract Web mining model for extracting approximate concepts hidden in user profiles on the semantic Web. The abstract Web mining model represents knowledge on user profiles by using an ontology which consists of both "part-of" and "is-a" relations. We also describe the details of using the abstract Web mining model for information gathering. In this application, classes of the ontology are represented as subsets of a list of keywords. An efficient filtering algorithm is also developed to filter out most non-relevant inputs. Publisher: Elsevier Relation: DOI:10.1016/j.knosys.2004.05.002; Li, Yuefeng and Zhong, Ning (2004) Web Mining Model and Its Applications for Information Gathering. Knowledge-Based Systems, 17(5-6). pp. 207-217. Format: application/pdf Rights: Copyright 2004 Elsevier; Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
2005-01-01
Winds from a meteor radar at Wuhan (30.6°N, 114.5°E) and a MF radar at Adelaide (35°S, 138°E) are used to study the 16-day waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). The height range is 78–98 km at Wuhan and 70–98 km at Adelaide. By comparison, it is found that the zonal components at both sites are generally larger than the meridional ones, and eastward motion of the zonal background winds is favorable for the 16-day waves penetration to the MLT region. The zonal maximum amplitude appears in the autumn (September–October) around 86–98 km at Wuhan and in the winter months and early spring (July–October) around 72–82 km at Adelaide. Differences are found in wave amplitudes and time of appearance between the two years of 2002 and 2003. In 2003, the intensity of the wave amplitudes is relatively smaller than that for 2002 at both sites. The summer 16-day waves are comparatively weaker at Adelaide in both years, but stronger in 2002 at Wuhan near the mesopause and the lower thermosphere (86–98 km). The strong summer waves at Wuhan may come from the winter southern hemisphere.Guo-ying Jiang, Jian-Gang Xiong, Wei-Xing Wan, Bai-Qi Ning, Li-Bo Liu, R.A. Vincent and I. Reidhttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/644/description#description Publisher: Pergamon-Elsevier Contributor: School of Chemistry and Physics : Physics; School of Chemistry and Physics Other identifier: Advances in Space Research, 2005; 35 (11):2005-2010; 0273-1177; 0020051944; 10.1016/j.asr.2005.03.011; 000235190900020 Language: en
Space-time variation of malaria incidence in Yunnan province, China
2009-01-01
Abstract Background Understanding spatio-temporal variation in malaria incidence provides a basis for effective disease control planning and monitoring. Methods Monthly surveillance data between 1991 and 2006 for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria across 128 counties were assembled for Yunnan, a province of China with one of the highest burdens of malaria. County-level Bayesian Poisson regression models of incidence were constructed, with effects for rainfall, maximum temperature and temporal trend. The model also allowed for spatial variation in county-level incidence and temporal trend, and dependence between incidence in June–September and the preceding January–February. Results Models revealed strong associations between malaria incidence and both rainfall and maximum temperature. There was a significant association between incidence in June–September and the preceding January–February. Raw standardised morbidity ratios showed a high incidence in some counties bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, and counties in the Red River valley. Clusters of counties in south-western and northern Yunnan were identified that had high incidence not explained by climate. The overall trend in incidence decreased, but there was significant variation between counties. Conclusion Dependence between incidence in summer and the preceding January–February suggests a role of intrinsic host-pathogen dynamics. Incidence during the summer peak might be predictable based on incidence in January–February, facilitating malaria control planning, scaled months in advance to the magnitude of the summer malaria burden. Heterogeneities in county-level temporal trends suggest that reductions in the burden of malaria have been unevenly distributed throughout the province. Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd Relation: DOI:10.1186/1475-2875-8-180; Clements, Archie and Barnett, Adrian G. and Cheng, Zhang Wei and Snow, Robert and Zhou, Hom Ning (2009) Space-time variation of malaria incidence in Yunnan province, China. Malaria journal, 8(1). p. 180.
New directions in mechanism design
2005-12-21
Mechanism design uses the tools of economics and game theory to design rules of interaction for economic transactions that will,in principle, yield some de- sired outcome. In the last few years this field has received much interest of researchers in computer science, especially with the Internet developing as a platform for communications and connections among enormous numbers of computers and humans. Arguably the most positive result in mechanism de- sign is truthful and there are only one general truthful mechanisms so far : the generalized Vickrey-Clarke-Groves (VCG) mechanism. But VCG mecha- nism has one shortage: The implementation of truthfulness is on the cost of decreasing the revenue of the mechanism. (e.g., Ning Chen and Hong Zhu. [1999]). We introduce three new characters of mechanism:partly truthful, criti- cal, consistent, and introduce a new mechanism: X mechanism that satisfy the above three characters. Like VCG mechanism, X mechanism also generalizes from Vickery Auction and is consistent with Vickery auction in many ways, but the extended methods used in X mechanism is different from that in VCG mechanism . This paper will demonstrate that X mechanism better than VCG mechanism in optimizing utility of mechanism, which is the original intention of mechanism design. So partly truthful,critical and consistent are at least as important as truthful in mechanism design, and they beyond truthful in many situations.As a result, we conclude that partly truthful,critical and consistent are three new directions in mechanism design.
Mining Ontology for Automatically Acquiring Web User Information Needs
2006-01-01
It is not easy to obtain the right information from the Web for a particular Web user or a group of users due to the obstacle of automatically acquiring Web user profiles. The current techniques do not provide satisfactory structures for mining Web user profiles. This paper presents a novel approach for this problem. The objective of the approach is to automatically discover ontologies from data sets in order to build complete concept models for Web user information needs. It also proposes a method for capturing evolving patterns to refine discovered ontologies. In addition, the process of assessing relevance in ontology is established. This paper provides both theoretical and experimental evaluations for the approach. The experimental results show that all objectives we expect for the approach are achievable. Publisher: IEEE Relation: DOI:10.1109/TKDE.2006.1599392; Li, Yuefeng Y. and Zhong, Ning N. (2006) Mining Ontology for Automatically Acquiring Web User Information Needs. IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, 18(4). pp. 554-568. Format: application/pdf Rights: Copyright 2006 IEEE; Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.
1978-07-01
This study was aimed to evaluate the phytotoxic natures of polluted waters coming from six rivers and 27 industrial waste waters in Kaohsiung area, Taiwan. Results were shown that among three test plants namely lettuce, rice and rye grass, lettuce was each time the most sensitive to polluted waters and was sharply different from the other two species, rice was the second, and rye grass was the least affected. The order of phytotoxicity reflected from the water of six rivers is as follows: Chien-Cheng-Ho > Jen-Ai-Ho > Ar-Kong-Ten-Chi > Ten-Paw-Chi > Hou-Ching-Chi > Ning-Yuan-Chun. There was a vast area of agricultural land which borders Hou-Ching-Chi where many crops, such as rice, cabbage, turnip, and trapa were severely jeopardized. The grain yield of rice along this river was reduced by at least 40%, and the number of tiller, panicle, and test weight were greatly reduced. The phytotoxicity in the waters of Ar-Kong-Ten-Chi, Chien-Cheng-Ho, Jen-Ai-Ho and Ten-Paw-Chi was correlated with electrical conductivity; furthermore, the phytotoxicity of the first three was also correlated with osmotic concentration. Two river waters of Ar-Kong-Ten-Chi and Hou-Ching-Chi showed their phytotoxicity being correlated with NH/sub 4//sup +/-N content. The phytotoxicity of 27 industrial waste waters varied with factory, thus factories Ta-Nun, Chung-Yu-Chu-Yun, Chung-Chien, and Swan-Lu exhibited inhibition higher than 75% of phytotoxicity in all test species. However, the phytotoxicity was poorly correlated with the physicochemical properties as studied, and the cause was discussed.
FedSat Orbit Determination: Results From Daily GPS Flight Code Observations
2003-01-01
The Australian Federation Satellite, FedSat, was successfully launched into a 780-km low-earth orbit on 14 December 2002. Since then, the onboard Blackjack GPS receiver has operated on a duty cycle basis, providing effective data sets at an average of 10 to 15 minutes per orbit with its only aft-looking antenna, which views a field of two-third of the hemisphere. This paper presents the technical description of the FedSat Orbit Determination and Tracking (FODT) software, which is used to perform FedSat orbit filtering and prediction on daily basis. We present results from GPS flight data sets of two periods: the very first 24 hour data collected on Day 364/02 and the very first data sets of 5 consecutive days in March 2003. The analysis is focused on the evaluation of the FedSat flight GPS data quality and the accuracy of orbit propagation solutions currently achievable with the FODT software. The results from the two data periods have shown that the FODT derived FedSat orbits from code measurements can be propagated forward 72 and 96 hours with the maximal orbit errors of 120m and 240m respectively, which will satisfy the precise pointing requirement for Ka-Band tracking. In general, these preliminary FedSat orbit determination results are considered encouraging and promising, given consideration of rather harsh FedSat observational environment. Relation: Feng, Yanming and Zhou, Ning and Enderle, Werner (2003) FedSat Orbit Determination: Results From Daily GPS Flight Code Observations. In: 6th International Symposium of Satellite Navigation Technology and Applications, 22-25 July 2003, Melbourne. Format: application/pdf Rights: Copyright 2003 (please consult author)
Dileptons from the nonequilibrium Quark-Gluon Plasma
2010-04-20
According to the dynamical quasiparticle model (DQPM) -- matched to reproduce lattice QCD results in thermodynamic limit, -- the constituents of the strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma (sQGP) are massive and off-shell quasi-particles (quarks and gluons) with broad spectral functions. In order to address the electromagnetic radiation of the sQGP, we derive off-shell cross sections of $q\\bar q\\to\\gamma^*$, $q\\bar q\\to\\gamma^*+g$ and $qg\\to\\gamma^*q$($\\bar q g\\to\\gamma^* \\bar q$) reactions taking into account the effective propagators for quarks and gluons from the DQPM. Dilepton production in In+In collisions at 158 AGeV is studied by implementing these processes into the parton-hadron-string dynamics (PHSD) transport approach. The microscopic PHSD transport approach describes the full evolution of the heavy-ion collision: from the dynamics of quasi-particles in the sQGP phase (when the local energy density is above $\\sim 1$ GeV/fm$^3$) through hadronization and to the following hadron interactions and off-shell propagation after the hadronization. A comparison to the data of the NA60 Collaboration shows that the low mass dilepton spectra are well described by including a collisional broadening of vector mesons, while the spectra in the intermediate mass range are dominated by off-shell quark-antiquark annihilation, quark Bremsstrahlung and gluon-Compton scattering in the nonperturbative QGP. In particular, the observed softe ning of the $m_T$ spectra at intermediate masses (1 GeV $\\le M \\le$ 3 GeV) is approximately reproduced.
1991-12-31
Six N-alkyl and N-aryl 5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl) carbamates were synthesized and studied for their structure-activity relationships in inhibiting eel acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The carbamates were 5-(1,3,3,trimethylindolinyl) N,N-dimethylcarbamate (Cui Xing Ning) (I), 5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl) N-methylcarbamate (II), 5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl) N-ethylcarbamate (III), 5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl) N,Ndiethylcarbamate (IV), 5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl) N-heptylcarbamate (V), and 5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl) N-(3-cholorophenyl)carbamate (VI). The inhibition studies were carried out at 25.0 deg C at pH 7.60. The rank order of the ki values for eel AChE inhibition is 11 > V > I > Ill > Vi > IV. Compound 11 has a greater affinity for the enzyme than any irreversible inhibitor cited in the literature (Kd = 7.14 x 10(-8)M). Our findings should aid in the application of these carbamates (1) for counteracting the cholinergic problems associated with various diseases,and (2) for developing potential pretreatment compounds for organophosphate poisoning. Acetylcholinesterase, carbamates, inhibition
Ab initio STM and STS simulations on magnetic and nonmagnetic metallic surfaces
2008-04-14
The aim of this work was to provide an in-depth understanding of a new generation of scan- ning tunneling microscopy experiments, performed employing different regimes of the STM: the spectroscopy-mode (the so-called Fourier Transformed STM, FT-STM), and the spin-sensitive mode (the so-called spin-polarized STM, SP-STM). In the present thesis ab initio tools are proposed that are based on DFT calculations to theoretically predict and analyze such types of the STM. The first part of this thesis focusses on the simulation of FT-STM, the mode that allows to probe local dispersion properties of the electrons at the surface. In order to provide the theoretical counterpart of the experimental FT-STM spectra we have introduced a new implicit approach that is derived from Tersoff-Hamann theory of the STM. The importance of an accurate description of surface wavefunctions at 5-15 A above the surface as well as the spurious quantum- size effects have been discussed in detail together with approaches to obtain converged FT-STM images. We applied our method to FT-STM experiments performed on Ag(110) surfaces. In the second part of the thesis we discuss the modeling of the spin-resolved STM, the mode that allows to characterize the magnetic structure of a surface. As a case system we studied here the magnetically-ordered transition-metal nitride surface Mn{sub 3}N{sub 2}(010). Because SP-STM experiments did not allow a conclusive understanding of the surface structure, we have first employed ab initio thermodynamics to figure out the most stable magnetic and atomic configuration of the surface that are consistent with experiments. To simulate SP-STM images on the most stable Mn{sub 3}N{sub 2}(010) surface we have employed the spin-generalized transfer-Hamiltonian formalism, assuming that the tip wavefunctions have dominant radial symmetry (s-like tip). (orig.)
A distributed agent approach to global transportation scheduling
2003-01-01
A suitable method for distributed transportation scheduling is necessary for the development of an agent-based logistics support system for the Australian Defence Force. Manager Agents (MA) require resources to be transported in large quantities and on a global scale, using the services of many Transport Agents (TA). In this paper, we investigate the application of Fisheris Extended Contract Net Protocol (ECNP) to our transportation domain. ENP provides a distributed and reactive approach to transportation scheduling that is fairly suited to this domain but has its shortfalls. This includes the inablity for TA to bid for partial routes, in addition to partial quantities, for a transportation task. A new protocol is proposed, based on ECNP, called the Provisional Agreement Protocol (PAP), which overcomes these shortfalls. Five speech acts, together with policies regarding the persistence and commitment of tasks and bids, are proposed. This allows agents to revisit bid options that were previously selected, and thus accommodates bidding for partial routes. Publisher: IEEE Other identifier: swin:18588 Language: English Source: Proceedings of the IEEE/WIC International Conference on Intelligent Agent Technology (IAT 2003), 13-17 October 2003, Halifax, Canada / Jiming Liu, Boi Faltings, Ning Zhong, Ruqian Lu and Toyoaki Nishida (eds.), pp. 18-24 Rights: Copyright 2003 IEEE. Published version of the paper reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.
A Warm Molecular Hydrogen Tail Due to Ram Pressure Stripping of a Cluster Galaxy
2009-12-02
We have discovered a remarkable warm (140 - 160 K) molecular hydrogen tail with a mass of approximately 2.5*10^7 M_sun extending 20 kpc from a cluster spiral galaxy, ESO 137-001, in Abell 3627. Some portion of this gas is lost permanently to the intracluster medium, as the tail extends beyond the tidal radius of the galaxy. We also detect a hot (580 - 680 K) component in the tail that is approximately 1% of the mass of the warm component. This discovery is direct evidence that the galaxy is currently undergoing ram-pressure stripping, as also indicated by its X-ray and H\\alpha tail found by other studies. We estimate the galaxy is losing its interstellar gas at a rate of at least ~ 1 - 2 M_sun yr^-1. If the galaxy persists to lose mass at this estimated rate, it will exhaust its gas reservoir in a single pass through the cluster core, which will take approximately 0.5 - 1 Gyr. The results produced from the modeling of the ram-pressure stripping timescale are consistent with our upper limit and suggest that the effects of ram-pressure are most likely to be seen when the galaxy approaches the outskirts of the cluster core for the first time. We also study the star forming properties of the galaxy and its tail, and we identify most of the previously discovered external H\\alpha sources within the tail in our 8 micron data but not in our 3.6 micron data, confirming these sources are HII regions. IRS spectroscopy of the region contai ning these H\\alpha sources also reveals aromatic features associated with star formation. We conclude that star-formation is not occurring throughout the molecular hydrogen tail but only immediately downstream of the galaxy. Gas-stripping may be a turbulent process where stars form within high density eddies in the stripped gas.
1993-12-31
The objective of this project was to determine the extent of soil-plant transfer of PCDD/PCDF with regard to the degree of soil contamination, soil properties and plant species. The main objective of the second and third vegetation period (1991/1992) was to estimate the proportion of the various contamination pathways. According to the results, root uptake of PCDD/PCDF and subsequent translocation to the shoots occurs only to a very small extent. Soils high in organic matter and with a high CEC seem to exhibit the lowest soil-plant transfer. However, in most areas this pathway is superimposed by atmospheric depositions of PCDD/PCDF. Under outdoor conditions an uptake of PCDD/PCDF into aerial plant parts following volatilisation from the soil can not be detected. Plant surface contamination with soil particles is of minor importance for the total PCDD/PCDF contamination of plants. (orig.) [Deutsch] Das Gesamtziel des Projektes war es zu untersuchen, wie sich unterschiedliche PCDD/PCDF-Belastungen von Boeden auf das Ausmass des Transfers Boden-Pflanze auswirken und welche Rolle hierbei verschiedene Bodeneigenschaften und Pflanzenarten spielen. Das wesentliche Ziel der Versuche der zweiten und dritten Vegetationsperiode (1991/1992) war die Ermittlung des Anteils der verschiedenen Kontaminationspfade an der Gesamtbelastung der Pflanzen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass eine systemische Aufnahme und eine anschliessende Verlagerung von PCDD/PCDF in oberirdische Pflanzenteile nur in einem sehr geringen Ausmass stattfindet. Boeden mit einem hohen Anteil organischer Substanz und hoher KAK weisen tendenziell einen geringeren Transfer Boden-Pflanze auf als leichtere Boeden. In den meisten Regionen wird der Transfer Boden-Pflanze jedoch von atmogenen PCDD/PCDF-Eintraegen ueberlagert. Eine Aufnahme aus dem Boden verdampfender PCDD/PCDF in Pflanzensprosse ist unter Freilandbedingungen nicht messbar. Oberflaechliche Kontaminationen mit PCDD/PCDF-belasteten Bodenpartikeln erwiesen sich als unbedeutend fuer die Gesamtbelastung von Pflanzen mit PCDD/PCDF. (orig.)
2008-08-01
Full Text Available.Tumor suppressor genes are classified by their somatic behavior either as caretakers (CTs) that maintain DNA integrity or as gatekeepers (GKs) that regulate cell survival, but the germ line role of these disease-related gene subgroups may differ. To test this hypothesis, we have used genomic data mining to compare the features of human CTs (n = 38), GKs (n = 36), DNA repair genes (n = 165), apoptosis genes (n = 622), and their orthologs. This analysis reveals that repair genes are numerically less common than apoptosis genes in the genomes of multicellular organisms (P < 0.01), whereas CT orthologs are commoner than GK orthologs in unicellular organisms (P < 0.05). Gene targeting data show that CTs are less essential than GKs for survival of multicellular organisms (P < 0.0005) and that CT knockouts often permit offspring viability at the cost of male sterility. Patterns of human familial oncogenic mutations confirm that isolated CT loss is commoner than is isolated GK loss (P < 0.00001). In sexually reproducing species, CTs appear subject to less efficient purifying selection (i.e., higher Ka/Ks) than GKs (P = 0.000003); the faster evolution of CTs seems likely to be mediated by gene methylation and reduced transcription-coupled repair, based on differences in dinucleotide patterns (P = 0.001). These data suggest that germ line CT/repair gene function is relatively dispensable for survival, and imply that milder (e.g., epimutational) male prezygotic repair defects could enhance sperm variation—and hence environmental adaptation and speciation—while sparing fertility. We submit that CTs and repair genes are general targets for epigenetically initiated adaptive evolution, and propose a model in which human cancers arise in part as an evolutionarily programmed side effect of age- and damage-inducible genetic instability affecting both somatic and germ line lineages.
Double Mantle Plume Upwelling?A Possible Formation Mechanism of Beta Plateau and Devana Chasma,Venus
Ning Ding,Zuoxun Zeng,China University of Geosciences,Wuhan,430074,China NingDing.eagle@gmail.com Introduction:Venus represents a?one plate planet?[1],and the uplift,fractures and volcanism in Beta Regio on Venus are considered to be formed by lithosphere uplift driven by a hot plume[2]. Based on the double peaking saddle landform,we suggest the tectonic pattern of double mantle plume upwelling to interpret the formation mechanism of Beta Plateau and Devana Chasma.We take a physical modeling to validate this possibility. Model:There is no ductile shear in Venus[3],so we use quartz sands to simulate the crust of Venus.We use two wood stickes 1.5cm in diameter rising from the rubber canvas slowly and straight till about half of the model,then falling down slowly and straight.The base is a hard rubber plate,in the center of which,there are two holes 3cm in diameter,and the distance between them is 5cm.The holes are covered by rubber canvas.We use the quartz sands in colours of white, red and black with particle size of 70 mess as the model materials. Result:Fig.1:At the beginning of the wood stickes upwelling,only fine radial cracks are formed above the upwelling from central to outside.With the upwelling continue,surface energy of the fine radial cracks increase and make the cracks unstable,finally,the fine radial cracks connect each other and form a fracture zone.And then the two mantle plume downwelling,the fracture zone is developed to form a chasma at the end. Fig.2:The four profiles all form reverse faults outside and normal faults inside.But the difference is the faults in the middle of the chasma goes deeper than others.It is the pattern of Beta Plateau where the tectonic rising is cut by Devana Chasma zone in the topographic features. Fig.3:From the tow fig., we can see two points similar:a.the elevation is high and distribution area is large around the area of two upwelling and it is high around the area of chasma,but the distribution area is small;b.both of them shows saddle shape and two highland connectting bya chasma. Discussion:Based on the?Geology Map of V-17?,two highlands of Northern part of Devana Chasma,but the material Unit of North and South highland are different.The material Units of North highland are the oldest unit tt and t,the material Unit of South highland is pl and the material Unit of rift is r are both the youngest unit.From the Magellan SAR mosaic[5],we can clearly see Devana Chasma cut the material Unit of tt and pl.So the two highlands of Northern part of Devana Chasma are simultaneous formed.The younger material Unit of South highland of Northern part of Devana Chasma is because of the volcanic eruption of Theia Mons. Conclusion:The physical modeling validates the model of the double plume upwelling is a possible explanation. Acknowledgements:This research was supported by the National Teaching Bases For Geology(CUG)foundation funded. References:[1]I.Lpez,Icarus2008[2]A.T.Basilevsky,Icarus2007[3]J.C.Aubele,2009,LPSC[4]A.V.Vezolainen,2003,Journalofgeophysicalres5earch[5]http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/v17_comp&v29_comp.pdf Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3a,3b
The Schistosoma japonicum genome reveals features of hostparasite interplay
2009-01-01
Schistosoma japonicum is a parasitic flatworm that causes human schistosomiasis, which is a significant cause of morbidity in China and the Philippines. Here we present a draft genomic sequence for the worm. The genome provides a global insight into the molecular architecture and host interaction of this complex metazoan pathogen, revealing that it can exploit host nutrients, neuroendocrine hormones and signalling pathways for growth, development and maturation. Having a complex nervous system and a well-developed sensory system, S. japonicum can accept stimulation of the corresponding ligands as a physiological response to different environments, such as fresh water or the tissues of its intermediate and mammalian hosts. Numerous proteases, including cercarial elastase, are implicated in mammalian skin penetration and haemoglobin degradation. The genomic information will serve as a valuable platform to facilitate development of new interventions for schistosomiasis control. Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Format: application/pdf Other identifier: Zhou, Yan, Zheng, Huajun, Chen, Yangyi, Zhang, Lei, Wang, Kai, Guo, Jing, Huang, Zhen, Guo, Jing, Huang, Zhen, Zhang, Bo, Huang, Wei, Jin, Ke, Dou, Tonghai, Hasegawa, Masami, Wang, Li, Zhang, Yuan, Zhou, Jie, Tao, Lin, Cao, Zhiwei, Li, Yixue, Vinar, Tomas, Brejova, Brona, Brown, Dan, Li, Ming, Miller, David, Blair, David, Zhong, Yang, Chen, Zhu, Liu, Feng, Hu, Wei, Wang, Zhi-Qin, Zhang, Qin-Hua, Song, Huai-Dong, Chen, Saijuan, Xu, Xuenian, Xu, Bin, Ju, Chuan, Huang, Yucheng, Brindley, Paul, McManus, Donald, Feng, Zheng, Han, Ze-Guang, Lu, Gang, Ren, Shuangxi, Wang, Yuezhu, Wenyi, Gu, Kang, Hui, Chen, Jie, Cheng, Xiaoyun, Chen, Shuting, Wang, Lijun, Yan, Jie, Wang, Biyun, Lv, Zinyan, Jin, Lei, Wang, Bofei, Pu, Shiyin, Zhang, Xianglin, Zhang, Wei, Hu, Qiuping, Zhu, Genfeng, Wang, Jun, Yu, Jun, Wang, Jian, Yang, Huamming, Ning, Zemin, Beriman, Matthew, Wei, Chia-Lin, Ruan, Yijuan, Zhao, Guoping, and Wang, Shengyue (2009) The Schistosoma japonicum genome reveals features of hostparasite interplay. Nature, 460 . pp. 345-352. ISSN 1476-4687
LLE Review 83, Quarterly Report
This volume of the LLE Review, covering April-June 2000, features an article by F. J. Marshall, T. Ohki, D. McInnis, Z. Ninkov, and J. Carbone, who detail the conversion of the OMEGA time-integrated x-ray diagnostics to electronic readout using direct-detection x-ray cameras [charge-injection devices (CID's)]. Pinhole and x-ray microscope images are shown along with inferred calibration measurements of the CID cameras. Currently, the same cameras are being used to obtain x-ray spectra in a TIM-based spectrometer, extending their use to all time-integrated imaging and spectroscopic x-ray instruments used on OMEGA. Additional highlights of the research presented in this issue are: (1) V. A. Smalyuk, B. Yaakobi, F. J. Marshall, and D. D. Meyerhofer investigate the spatial structure of the temperature and density of target-shell plasmas at peak compression (stagnation). This is accomplished by examining the energy dependence of the x-ray emission using narrow-band x-ray filters and the known absorption properties of the shell dopant (Ti). (2) F. Sequin, C. K. Ll, D. G. Hicks, J. A. Frenje, K. M. Green, R. D. Petrasso, J. M. Soures, V. Yu. Glebov, C. Stoeckl, P. B. Radha, D. D. Meyerhofer, S. Roberts, C. Sorce, T. C. Sangster, M. D. Cable, S. Padalino, and K. Fletcher detail the physics and instrumentation used to obtain and interpret secondary D-{sup 3}He proton spectra from current gas-filled-target and future cryogenic-target experiments. Through a novel extension of existing charged-particle detection techniques with track detectors, the authors demonstrate the ability to obtain secondary proton spectra with increased sensitivity. (3) M. Guardelben, L. Ning, N. Jain, D. Battaglia, and K. Marshall compare the utility of a novel liquid-crystal-based, point-diffraction interferometer (LCPDI) with the commercial standard phase-shifting interferometer and conclude that the LCPDI is a viable low-cost alternative. (4) A. B. Shorey, S. D. Jacobs, W. I. Kordonski, and R. F. Gans detail the mechanisms of glass polishing using the magnetorheological finishing (MRF) technique currently being studied in the Center for Optics Manufacturing (COM). Material-removal experiments show that the nanohardness of carbonyl iron (CI) is important in MRF with nonaqueous MR fluids with no nonmagnetic abrasives, but is relatively unimportant in aqueous MR fluids and/or when nonmagnetic abrasives are present.
LLE Review 83, Quarterly Report
2000-12-01
This volume of the LLE Review, covering April-June 2000, features an article by F. J. Marshall, T. Ohki, D. McInnis, Z. Ninkov, and J. Carbone, who detail the conversion of the OMEGA time-integrated x-ray diagnostics to electronic readout using direct-detection x-ray cameras [charge-injection devices (CID's)]. Pinhole and x-ray microscope images are shown along with inferred calibration measurements of the CID cameras. Currently, the same cameras are being used to obtain x-ray spectra in a TIM-based spectrometer, extending their use to all time-integrated imaging and spectroscopic x-ray instruments used on OMEGA. Additional highlights of the research presented in this issue are: (1) V. A. Smalyuk, B. Yaakobi, F. J. Marshall, and D. D. Meyerhofer investigate the spatial structure of the temperature and density of target-shell plasmas at peak compression (stagnation). This is accomplished by examining the energy dependence of the x-ray emission using narrow-band x-ray filters and the known absorption properties of the shell dopant (Ti). (2) F. Sequin, C. K. Ll, D. G. Hicks, J. A. Frenje, K. M. Green, R. D. Petrasso, J. M. Soures, V. Yu. Glebov, C. Stoeckl, P. B. Radha, D. D. Meyerhofer, S. Roberts, C. Sorce, T. C. Sangster, M. D. Cable, S. Padalino, and K. Fletcher detail the physics and instrumentation used to obtain and interpret secondary D-{sup 3}He proton spectra from current gas-filled-target and future cryogenic-target experiments. Through a novel extension of existing charged-particle detection techniques with track detectors, the authors demonstrate the ability to obtain secondary proton spectra with increased sensitivity. (3) M. Guardelben, L. Ning, N. Jain, D. Battaglia, and K. Marshall compare the utility of a novel liquid-crystal-based, point-diffraction interferometer (LCPDI) with the commercial standard phase-shifting interferometer and conclude that the LCPDI is a viable low-cost alternative. (4) A. B. Shorey, S. D. Jacobs, W. I. Kordonski, and R. F. Gans detail the mechanisms of glass polishing using the magnetorheological finishing (MRF) technique currently being studied in the Center for Optics Manufacturing (COM). Material-removal experiments show that the nanohardness of carbonyl iron (CI) is important in MRF with nonaqueous MR fluids with no nonmagnetic abrasives, but is relatively unimportant in aqueous MR fluids and/or when nonmagnetic abrasives are present.
2007-01-01
Copyright © 2007 American Physiological SocietyS100A11 is a member of the S100 family of EF-hand Ca2+-binding proteins, which is expressed in smooth muscle and other tissues. Ca2+ binding to S100A11 induces a conformational change that exposes a hydrophobic surface for interaction with target proteins. Affinity chromatography with immobilized S100A11 was used to isolate a 70-kDa protein from smooth muscle that bound to S100A11 in a Ca2+-dependent manner and was identified by mass spectrometry as annexin A6. Direct Ca2+-dependent interaction between S100A11 and annexin A6 was confirmed by affinity chromatography of the purified bacterially expressed proteins, by gel overlay of annexin A6 with purified S100A11, by chemical cross-linking, and by coprecipitation of S100A11 with annexin A6 bound to liposomes. The expression of S100A11 and annexin A6 in the same cell type was verified by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry of isolated vascular smooth muscle cells. The site of binding of S100A11 on annexin A6 was investigated by partial tryptic digestion and deletion mutagenesis. The unique NH2 terminal head region of annexin A6 was not required for S100A11 binding, but binding sites were identified in both NH2- and COOH-terminal halves of the molecule. We hypothesize that an agonist-induced increase in cytosolic free [Ca2+] leads to formation of a complex of S100A11 and annexin A6, which forms a physical connection between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton, or plays a role in the formation of signaling complexes at the level of the sarcolemma.Ning Chang, Cindy Sutherland, Eva Hesse, Robert Winkfein, William B. Wiehler, Mark Pho, Claude Veillette, Susan Li, David P. Wilson, Enikõ Kiss, and Michael P. Walsh Publisher: American Physiological Society Contributor: School of Molecular and Biomedical Science Other identifier: American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, 2007; 292 (4):C1417-C1430; 0363-6143; 0020074061; 20080116120923; 10.1152/ajpcell.00439.2006 Language: en_US
Towards more effective approaches in teaching oral English to Chinese students in EFL teaching
1984-01-01
This study examines the problems involved in oral English teaching in the Chinese tertiary institution Erwai (the Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute). In the study the author analyses oral English teaching in China based on his experience as a teacher of English in China, his two-year study experience as a student in Australia, interviews with colleagues, and class observation of oral English teaching by Australian teachers in the C.C.A.E. Special English Programme. Some materials from Erwai are also drawn on in the study, such as Erwai-compiled textbooks and the Erwai teaching curriculum. During the study the author has referred to many books and journals on TESOL in various libraries in Canberra. The theoretical knowledge and teaching techniques learned in the TESOL Programme at the Canberra College of Advanced Education have also helped the author carry out this study. Chapter One introduces the background to the problems which exist in oral English teaching in China. It emphasises the importance of Chinese teachers' having a clear understanding and a good command of a wide range of techniques in teaching oral English. Chapter Two examines some approaches now used in oral English classes at Erwai. This chapter also analyses students' motivation to learn oral English, the teachers' performance in oral English classes as well as when and how to correct students' mistakes in their oral English. Some practical oral activities which Erwai has arranged for present students and is thinking of arranging for future students are also discussed in this chapter. Chapter Three identifies and analyses in more detail theories of teaching oral English such as the audiolingual method, counselling learning, the direct method and the eclectic approach. In Chapter Four some activities are suggested to make oral classes more enjoyable. In second year oral English classes, repetition and situational dialogue are far from enough for teaching oral English. Short plays and skits can be used to enrich the oral English classes. This chapter also discusses the observation of oral English classes by Australian teachers in the C.C.A.E. Special English Programme. Chapter Five considers the choice of materials and the application of materials in class. Oral English materials used at Erwai at the moment mainly come from two sources: home-produced materials compiled by Erwai or other foreign language institutes in China, and some commerciallypublished materials imported from foreign countries. There is another source which can be used in teaching oral English - materials compiled on the basis of authentic materials such as excerpts from magazines and newspapers. In the conclusion it is pointed out that many suggestions have been made in the study about oral English teaching techniques and materials. It is hoped that such suggestions have practical value in improving the level of oral English in China in line with the country's present needs. At the same time new techniques require ample opportunity for trying out in practice before their full effectiveness will become apparent. Publisher: University of Canberra. Liberal Studies Language: en Rights: ); Copyright Ning Wang
2006-01-01
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms and childhood experiences, and to explore the role of Early Maladaptive Schemas and core beliefs as variables possibly mediating this relationship. Previous research with clinical samples has established a strong link between childhood maltreatment and adult BPD (& other PD) symptoms in clinical samples. However, difficulties with these studies limit the specificity of results. For example, BPD has been shown to be highly comorbid with other axis I and axis II psychiatric conditions. Given that studies examining the relationship between BPD and childhood maltreatment generally fail to control for these comorbid conditions, the specificity of their results must be questioned. Furthermore, it has been well established that childhood familial environment is strongly related to childhood maltreatment. Again studies examining the relationship between BPD and childhood maltreatment have generally failed to concurrently assess childhood familial environments, hence opening the possibility that the relationship between BPD and childhood maltreatment may be due to family functioning rather than childhood maltreatment per se. Finally, studies linking childhood maltreatment with adult BPD have primarily utilized clinical samples. However, the primary use of clinical samples to examine the aetiology of disorders in this context ignores the vast literature showing adequate psychological functio ning for the majority of individuals exposed to childhood maltreatment. Hence, the primary aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adult BPD symptoms in a primarily non-clinical sample whilst statistically controlling for commonly comorbid axis I and axis II symptomatology and concurrently measuring childhood familial functioning. It was a secondary aim of the current study to examine the mediating effects of beliefs on the relationship between childhood factors (i.e., childhood maltreatment & childhood familial functioning) and adult BPD symptomatology. That is, cognitive-behavioural theorists argue that personality disorders may be triggered by adverse childhood experiences leading to maladaptive beliefs (or schemas) related to the self, others, and the world, and it is these beliefs which lead to the behavioural disturbances evident in personality disorders. One hundred and eighty-five primarily non-clinical participants completed questionnaires measuring a variety of axis I and axis II symptoms, early maladaptive schemas and core beliefs, as well as retrospective reports of family functioning and childhood maltreatment. Results showed a significant relationship between childhood factors and adult BPD symptomatology. For example, the largest correlation between BPD symptoms and a childhood factor was .27 (for childhood emotional abuse). Furthermore, early maladaptive schemas and core beliefs were found to mediate the relationship between childhood factors and adult BPD symptomatology thus supporting cognitive-behavioural theories of personality disorders. However, early maladaptive schemas and core beliefs were also found to mediate the relationship between childhood factors and other Axis I and Axis II symptoms. Hence, it was concluded that while there was some support for a cognitive mediation hypothesis for BPD symptoms, future research is needed in exploring the specificity of the cognitive mediation hypothesis for BPD. Publisher: RMIT University. Health Sciences Language: en Rights: http://www.rmit.edu.au/help/disclaimer; Copyright Steven Carr
2009-09-15
Graphene physics is currently one of the most active research areas in condensed matter physics. Countless theoretical and experimental studies have already been performed, targeting electronic, magnetic, thermal, optical, structural and vibrational properties. Also, studies that modify pristine graphene, aiming at finding new physics and possible new applications, have been considered. These include patterning nanoribbons and quantum dots, exposing graphene's surface to different chemical species, studying multilayer systems, and inducing strain and curvature (modifying in this way graphene's electronic properties). This focus issue includes many of the latest developments on graphene research. Focus on Graphene Contents The effect of sublattice symmetry breaking on the electronic properties of doped graphene A Qaiumzadeh and R Asgari Interfaces within graphene nanoribbons J Wurm, M Wimmer, I Adagideli, K Richter and H U Baranger Weak localization and transport gap in graphene antidot lattices J Eroms and D Weiss Electronic properties of graphene antidot lattices J A Fuerst, J G Pedersen, C Flindt, N A Mortensen, M Brandbyge, T G Pedersen and A-P Jauho Splitting of critical energies in the n=0 Landau level of graphene Ana L C Pereira Double-gated graphene-based devices S Russo, M F Craciun, M Yamamoto, S Tarucha and A F Morpurgo Pinning and switching of magnetic moments in bilayer graphene Eduardo V Castro, M P Lopez-Sancho and M A H Vozmediano Electronic transport properties of graphene nanoribbons Katsunori Wakabayashi, Yositake Takane, Masayuki Yamamoto and Manfred Sigrist Many-body effects on out-of-plane phonons in graphene J Gonzalez and E Perfetto Graphene zigzag ribbons, square lattice models and quantum spin chains Mahdi Zarea and Nancy Sandler On the universal ac optical background in graphene V P Gusynin, S G Sharapov and J P Carbotte Heat conduction in graphene: experimental study and theoretical interpretation S Ghosh, D L Nika, E P Pokatilov and A A Balandin Calculation of the Raman G peak intensity in monolayer graphene: role of Ward identities D M Basko Electronic transport in bilayer graphene Mikito Koshino Magnetic Kronig-Penney model for Dirac electrons in single-layer graphene M Ramezani Masir, P Vasilopoulos and F M Peeters Electrical transport in high-quality graphene pnp junctions Jairo Velasco Jr, Gang Liu, Wenzhong Bao and Chun Ning Lau Local density of states and scanning tunneling currents in graphene N M R Peres, Ling Yang and Shan-Wen Tsai Gaps and tails in graphene and graphane B Dora and K Ziegler Quasi-ferromagnet spintronics in the graphene nanodisc-lead system Motohiko Ezawa Range and correlation effects in edge disordered graphene nanoribbons Alessandro Cresti and Stephan Roche Remarks on the tight-binding model of graphene Cristina Bena and Gilles Montambaux (editorial)
Analysis and Coding of High Quality Audio Signals
2003-01-01
Digital audio is increasingly becoming more and more a part of our daily lives. Unfortunately, the excessive bitrate associated with the raw digital signal makes it an extremely expensive representation. Applications such as digital audio broadcasting, high definition television, and internet audio, require high quality audio at low bitrates. The field of audio coding addresses this important issue of reducing the bitrate of digital audio, while maintaining a high perceptual quality. Developing an efficient audio coder requires a detailed analysis of the audio signals themselves. It is important to find a representation that can concisely model any general audio signal. In this thesis, we propose two new high quality audio coders based on two different audio representations - the sinusoidal-wavelet representation, and the warped linear predictive coding (WLPC)-wavelet representation. In addition to high quality coding, it is also important for audio coders to be flexible in their application. With the increasing popularity of internet audio, it is advantageous for audio coders to address issues related to real-time audio delivery. The issue of bitstream scalability has been targeted in this thesis, and therefore, a third audio coder capable of bitstream scalability is also proposed. The performance of each of the proposed coders was evaluated by comparisons with the MPEG layer III coder. The first coder proposed is based on a hybrid sinusoidal-wavelet representation. This assumes that each frame of audio can be modelled as a sum of sinusoids plus a noisy residual. The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is used to decompose the residual into subbands that approximate the critical bands of human hearing. A perceptually derived bit allocation algorithm is then used to minimise the audible distortions introduced from quantising the DWT coefficients. Listening tests showed that the coder delivers near-transparent quality for a range of critical audio signals at G4 kbps. It also outperforms the MPEG layer III coder operating at this same bitrate. This coder, however, is only useful for high quality coding, and is difficult to scale to operate at lower rates. The second coder proposed is based on a hybrid WLPC-wavelet representation. In this approach, the spectrum of the audio signal is estimated by an all pole filter using warped linear prediction (WLP). WLP operates on a warped frequency domain, where the resolution can be adjusted to approximate that of the human auditory system. This makes the inherent noise shaping of the synthesis filter even more suited to audio coding. The excitation to this filter is transformed using the DWT and perceptually encoded. Listening tests showed that near-transparent coding is achieved at G4 kbps. The coder was also found to be slightly superior to the MPEG layer III coder operating at this same bitrate. The third proposed coder is similar to the previous WLPC-wavelet coder, but modified to achieve bitstream scalability. A noise model for high frequency components is included to keep the overall bitrate low, and a two stage quantisation scheme for the DWT coefficients is implemented. The first stage uses fixed rate scalar and vector quantisation to provide a coarse approximation of the coefficients. This allows for low bitrate, low quality versions of the input signal to be embedded in the overall bitstream. The second stage of quantisation adds detail to the coefficients, and hence, enhances the quality of the output signal. Listening tests showed that signal quality gracefully improves as the bitrate increases from 16 kbps to SO kbps. This coder has a performance that is comparable to the MPEG layer III coder operating at a similar (but fixed) bitrate. Publisher: Queensland University of Technology Rights: Copyright Daryl Ning
Passing the Torch: Athletic and Entrepreneurial Endeavors
2007-01-01
One of the most rewarding aspects of ultrarunning and athletics is the chance to meet a lot of really neat people. Among these folks are a unique and inspirational breed of small business owners and entrepreneurs. In my 'non-running life,' I study the establishment and growth of new firms and am fascinated by the sheer and completely disproportionate number of sporty types, and former Olympians, who continue to blaze their own trail—by starting, taking over and growing their own firms. I call this phenomenon 'Passing the Torch,' and have initiated an in-depth global study of such individuals. Let’s begin with some examples, from our sport and beyond. First, there are a number of folks who pursue athletics-related industry. Pam Reed runs top-notch times at multiple distances and is race director for the world-class Tucson Marathon. Wisconsin's Kevin Setnes runs Ultrafit, which provides a range of quality endurance products. Bozeman-based Celia Bertoia runs Perfect Timing, a terrific race organizing service. In the UK, the world record holder for the number of marathons won (66), multiple London-to-Brighton winner Leslie Watson has a successful physiotherapy practice in London. Korea’s Bokjin Park (one of the 2006 IAU World 100K organizers) recently started his own shoe company-- 'faab'-- free as a bird (Terjesen, 2007). Many other successful athletes also run their own business in a non-sports related areas such as manufacturing, retail, and services. 'Passing the torch' is apparent in many other sports. My research has begun to uncover former Olympians who have subsequently started their own firms, in sports and other arenas. For example, gymnastics greats Valerie Liukin and Evgeny Marchenko now run a very successful gym in Plano, Texas. The Chinese gymnast Li Ning (winner of 3 golds, 2 silvers and 1 bronze) retired in 1988 and in 1990 founded Beijing Li-Ning Sports Goods which sells athletic footwear and apparel. His products outsell Nike and Adidas in China and revenues exceed $300 million. America's Jair Lynch, 1996 Olympic Silver medalist, heads a thriving real estate development practice. Another Olympic Silver medalist, from two decades earlier, Rick Wohlhuter (1976 Olympic Games’ 800m) now runs a successful financial planning practice in Illinois. Golfing greats David Frost and Greg Norman have established wineries, in their native South Africa and Australia, respectively. Among marathoners, Jonny Halberstadt and Mark Plaatjes, both running legends (and the latter the holder of the 1993 World Marathon Championships title), are South African emigres and majority owners of the Boulder Running Company in Boulder, Colorado, Bob Kennedy recently started his own running store, and the late Brian Maxwell founded PowerBar with his wife Jennifer. My friend Rashad Bartholomew, a former running back for the NFL's Tennessee Titans, recently completed a Stanford MBA and Master's in Education and has started Power Learning, a company that provides web-application that enable educators to share content and ideas and to improve teaching effectiveness. WNBA star Dawn Staley joined collegiate basketball star Angela Taylor and Olympic volleyball player Beverly Oden to recently launch an ambitious social venture to improve the chances of at-risk students to attend college. There are also many close parallels that suggest that something significant is afoot. For example, consider the remarkable legacy of the 10th Mountain Division in World War II— all top athletes who trained rigorously in skiing and mountaineering. Not only are many of these men still skiing (in the their 80s!) a disproportionate number started businesses from ski areas to.... Nike. What is it about athletes that drive them to run their own businesses? What role does sports success, or just being sporty, play in managing a business? There is a very small but growing body of research, and a trickle of key concepts which I share below. Fitness and High Performance. Fitness does a body, a mind and a soul good. Research by Ball State University academics reveals that small business owners who maintain good levels of fitness are more likely to be higher-performing (Goldsby, Kuratko & Bishop, 2005). Gregory Florez, former Nike athlete and CEO of First Fitness, has been working to improve executive well-being for over 20 years, coaching executives to help them adapt to the extraordinary demands of leadership at the highest level. Conservative estimates from his work indicate that healthy executives are 23% more productive than their less active counterparts. Athletes don’t need to be convinced of the mind-body connection and the relationship between nutrition, stress, recovery, and performance. Comfort with training schedules, cycles of rest and recovery, discipline, and general self-awareness may help athletes who become business owners to design lives that support and sustain the significant commitment required to their work. Self Efficacy. In field of psychology, 'self-efficacy' describes individuals' beliefs about their ability to produce high levels of performance in tasks undertaken in life. Self-efficacy is at the core of how individuals think, motivate and feel about themselves, and also behave. Individuals with strong self-efficacy approach tasks as challenges, even under stressful situations, and are strongly motivated. Even when they have 'failed,' individuals with high levels of self-efficacy can recover and attribute their lack of success to being deficient in a key set of knowledge and skills which can be acquired. On the other hand, individuals with low self-efficacy doubt their abilities and are unlikely to pursue tasks and activities which are perceived as difficult. In the face of such tasks, they think about their personal deficiencies, the potential obstacles and are pessimistic about the ability to perform successfully. When faced with failure, they are slow to recover and lose motivation. An individual develops his/her sense of self-efficacy through experiencing success (especially in challenging tasks) and through positive reinforcement from others (e.g. family members, friends, role models). Sports psychologists have established a clear link between self-efficacy and sports success. In parallel, there is a great body of entrepreneurship research indicating that entrepreneurs also generally have high levels of self-efficacy. An individual's self-efficacy is developed from a young age. Dedicated training in sports can foster the development of a learning mastery orientation within children that can be applied to an array of domains later in life—increasing the odds that the individual will flourish in whichever domains that s/he pursues. In the words of my colleagues: 'Competitive sports cultivate the aptitude to constantly better yourself and aim for becoming the best...help improve perceptions and interpretations of environmental uncertainty and provide coping strategies in the entrepreneurial competitive arena which is a crucial element in self-efficacy. Hence, children who participate in competitive sports are socialized into an entrepreneurial mindset - they feel more competitively competent, set higher goals, and are more persistent in their attempts to achieve their goals. Such children may thus be spurred on by apparent obstacles rather than feel discouraged by them' (Neergaard & Krueger, 2007). There is a potential dark side to self-efficacy, however. The ability to externalize failure and a predisposition to optimism may cause an entrepreneur to be unreasonably committed to a business idea without accepting feedback – from friends, colleagues, or the market. The very confidence an entrepreneur exhibits can become the very thing that sows the seeds of failure. Athletes may find that they need to work just as hard in the business world in order to be successful. Furthermore, self-efficacy may be task specific. Just because an athlete has confidence in his/her long distance running prowess does not necessarily mean that individual will have confidence in his/her entrepreneurial abilities. However, there does tend to be some carry over from general self-efficacy to different domains. Individuals who have achieved success can always look back at that and draw strength that they have succeeded in something important in life, even if it is a different domain. Self-Leadership. Another psychology principle, self-leadership, is defined as 'the process of influencing oneself to establish the self-direction and self-motivation needed to perform' (Manz, 1992). The concept describes a higher level of self-influence beyond the scope of self-management, encompassing monitoring as well as strategizing toward optimal outcomes. Individuals with strong self-leadership skills engage in self-dialog through their daily work and project mental images of success (Manz, 1992). This self-dialog has been linked to increased mental performance, enthusiasm for work, and decreased levels of stress (Neck & Manz, 1996). Further, self-leadership is associated with persistence in the entrepreneurial process (Neck, Neck, Manz and Godwin, 1999) as well as the decision to run ultras and the ability to finish. For example, both entrepreneurs and athletes have been found to engage in self-dialog and self-verbalizations, which are linked to performance improvements. Search for Authenticity. Athletes seek authenticity, in their sport and in themselves. These individuals may also seek authenticity in their careers, a phenomenon which involves the willingness 'to take initiative and responsibility for his or her career and able to achieve congruence between past and future, as well as between private and public domains of one's self' (Svejenova, 2005). Authenticity-seeking individuals are also found in the creative industries, such as film, food and TV. Authenticity seeking entrepreneurs report pursuing careers based on vision, values and loves, what is described as a 'path with the heart.' Flow. Another cognitive strength for many top athletes is the ability to readily find a 'flow' state where they are 'in the zone' of heightened awareness and confidence and the resulting increased performance and satisfaction. Elite athletes appear to have well-above average abilities to attain and maintain a flow state (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). Resilience to Adversity. Professors Martin Seligman and Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi have forged considerable research into positive psychology. Seligman coined the term 'learned optimism' (1990) to describe an attributional measure of resilience to adversity that seems imperative to initiating and persisting at significant goal-directed behavior. Not surprisingly, this measure characterizes both world-class athletes and entrepreneurs (Krueger et al., 2000). Tall Poppy Syndrome. In Australia, the term 'tall poppy syndrome' is used to describe individuals who call attention to their better-than-average abilities, e.g. are tall flowers who waver over the crowds. This behavior is tolerated by elite athletes and rock stars, but frowned in other areas, and is also easily found in Scandinavian cultures. For example, in Norwegian, we have an expression, 'janteloven' which means 'Don't ever think you count for anything!' Athletes who grow up in such cultures are used to over-achieve and are, in fact, encouraged to do so. For example, Helle Neergaard found that many of Denmark's venture capitalists achieved earlier success on athletic fields; many continue to engage in atheltics at a high level. There are also examples in the United Staets. For example, American venture capitalist John Hummer of Hummer Winblad is an alumnus of the NBA and pro football star Ronnie Lott is also a rising venture capitalist. Pattern and Opportunity Seeking. High-achieving athletes have developed exceptional abilities to identify patterns and opportunities. Entrepreneurs are equally adept as seeing and seizing opportunities in a variety of environments. World-class athletes are very focused – often maniacally so – on finding the tiniest improvement in performance, which often is buried in a mound of data. Pattern recognition – the process by which individuals identify meaningful patterns in complex collections of data or events has been identified as a critical aspect of opportunity recognition and something that can be learned over time (Baron & Ensley, 2006). Team Player. Many sports involve a team. Even in ultrarunning, which is dominated by the lonely long-distance runner, there are wonderful opportunities for camaraderie. For example, the IAU World 100K Championship is based on the performance of the top three athletes from each national team. In other sports the need to work as a team is more explicit. For example, winning a Grand Tour as a professional road cyclist requires the support and commitment of the entire team over a three-week time period, and a professional cyclist is always keenly aware that he or she wins because the team from top to bottom is aligned in the support of this goal A coterie of cooks, support staff, and mechanics operate with one goal in mind: remove everything but riding, eating, and recovering from the mind of the rider during the race. A Directeur Sportif develops the team tactics that the riders execute, with each rider sacrificing his or her chance to win the race to protect the designated team leader. Athletes often develop excellent leadership and followership skills which can come in handy in new ventures, of which more than half are co-founded. If you know of ultrarunner or athlete-entrepreneurs from other sports who would like to participate in the research, please e-mail me at siriterjesen@yahoo.com. The results should be useful to athletes aspiring to 'pass the torch' themselves. My friends and I look forward to sharing our findings! Publisher: Ultrarunning Relation: Terjesen, Siri A. (2007) Passing the Torch: Athletic and Entrepreneurial Endeavors. Ultrarunning, 27(5). Rights: Copyright 2007 Ultrarunning
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