Fluidic Technology and Some Recent Applications to Space and Oceanography

This paper is presented to show the degree of advancements that fluidic technology is making in various technical disciplines. Examples are used and discussed based on the many programs sponsored by the government. The references used here represent only a small percent of the total. Individuals with specific interests or applications can expand the reference list on the choosen subject to take advantage of the considerable amount of advanced research and development already completed

Edge smoothing for real-time simulation of a polygon face object system as viewed by a moving observer

The visual system within an aircraft flight simulation system receives flight data and terrain data which is formated into a buffer memory. The image data is forwarded to an image processor which translates the image data into face vertex vectors Vf, defining the position relationship between the vertices of each terrain object and the aircraft. The image processor then rotates, clips, and projects the image data into two-dimensional display vectors (Vd). A display generator receives the Vd faces, and other image data to provide analog inputs to CRT devices which provide the window displays for the simulated aircraft. The video signal to the CRT devices passes through an edge smoothing device which prolongs the rise time (and fall time) of the video data inversely as the slope of the edge being smoothed. An operational amplifier within the edge smoothing device has a plurality of independently selectable feedback capacitors each having a different value. The values of the capacitors form a series which doubles as a power of two. Each feedback capacitor has a fast switch responsive to the corresponding bit of a digital binary control word for selecting (1) or not selecting (0) that capacitor. The control word is determined by the slope of each edge. The resulting actual feedback capacitance for each edge is the sum of all the selected capacitors and is directly proportional to the value of the binary control word. The output rise time (or fall time) is a function of the feedback capacitance, and is controlled by the slope through the binary control word

Sensitivity of Vertebrate Embryos to Heavy Metals as a Criterion of Water Quality, Phase II: Bioassay Procedures Using Developmental Stages as Test Organisms

Chick, amphibian, and fish embryos were evaluated as bioassay and bioindicator organisms. Test procedures were developed by which embryonic stages may be used 1) in bioassay systems to evaluate the toxicity of particular metallic or metal-containing trace contaminants, and 20 as bioindicators to monitor the quality of natural water resources. A bioassay technique was devised in which metallic toxicants were administered to chick embryos by needle tract injection into the yolk sac. This provided more uniform distribution of test metals throughout the yolk mass than can be obtained by conventional yolk sac injection methods, and gave more sensitivity and uniformity of test results. Metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and zinc are easily detectable at a level of 1 ppb. An in vitroculture technique was developed by which embryos of aquatic vertebrates may be maintained for bioassay and bioindicator purposes. Five test species were identified, suitable synthetic culture water was formulated, and culture monitoring procedures were determined. Most toxic metals (e.g., mercury) may be detected at 1ppb or less with the use of more sensitive embryonic species (e.g., trout). Early cleavage stages of the leopard frog (Rana pipiens) proved more sensitive to cadmium than older embryos, similar to results obtained in Phase I with mercury treatment of frog embryos. Early developmental stages, therefore, have proven especially important for use in bioassay and bioindicator systems

Boskoop en Bollenstreek. Hoe innig is de samenwerking

In het kader van de streekplanherziening Zuid-Holland Oost is in opdracht van de provincie Zuid-Holland onderzoek gedaan naar de autonome ontwikkeling van het boomteeltcomplex Boskoop en de interacties met het bloembollencomplex 'De Bollenstreek'. Om het belang van het boomteeltcomplex binnen het sierteeltcomplex Zuid-Holland te duiden zijn ook de interacties met de bloemisterij in kaart gebracht. De interacties tussen Boskoop en de Bollenstreek blijven beperkt tot een gecombineerde afzet van bloembollen en een beperkt assortiment boomteeltproducten, met name vaste planten. Mede door het groeiende belang van de bloemenveilingen in de afzet van boomteeltproducten en de toenemende vraag naar visueel aantrekkelijke boomteeltproducten is de interactie tussen Boskoop en het bloemisterijcomplex Zuid-Holland veel sterker. Vanwege de aanwezigheid van een groot assortiment aan boomteeltproducten, de beschikbaarheid van veel kennis en vakmanschap, korte transportlijnen naar de veilingen en de centrale ligging heeft Boskoop een belangrijke meerwaarde binnen het sierteeltcomplex Zuid-Holland

Narcissism, materialism, and environmental ethics in business students

ABSTRACT We investigate the relationships between narcissism, materialism, and environmental ethics in undergraduate business students. Data were collected from business students (n = 405) at an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-accredited business school at a comprehensive state university. Results indicate that narcissism has an indirect effect on business students' environmental ethics. Narcissism was significantly related to materialism, and materialism was significantly related to lower levels of environmental ethics. Considering increasing levels of narcissism among business students, we discuss the potential for future research and potential intervention strategies

Applying a User-centred Approach to Interactive Visualization Design

Analysing users in their context of work and finding out how and why they use different information resources is essential to provide interactive visualisation systems that match their goals and needs. Designers should actively involve the intended users throughout the whole process. This chapter presents a user-centered approach for the design of interactive visualisation systems. We describe three phases of the iterative visualisation design process: the early envisioning phase, the global specification hase, and the detailed specification phase. The whole design cycle is repeated until some criterion of success is reached. We discuss different techniques for the analysis of users, their tasks and domain. Subsequently, the design of prototypes and evaluation methods in visualisation practice are presented. Finally, we discuss the practical challenges in design and evaluation of collaborative visualisation environments. Our own case studies and those of others are used throughout the whole chapter to illustrate various approaches

Longitudinal characteristics of T2-FLAIR mismatch in IDH-mutant astrocytomas: Relation to grade, histopathology, and overall survival in the GLASS-NL cohort.

BACKGROUND: The T2-FLAIR mismatch sign is defined by signal loss of the T2-weighted hyperintense area with Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) on magnetic resonance imaging, causing a hypointense region on FLAIR. It is a highly specific diagnostic marker for IDH-mutant astrocytoma and is postulated to be caused by intercellular microcystic change in the tumor tissue. However, not all IDH-mutant astrocytomas show this mismatch sign and some show the phenomenon in only part of the lesion. The aim of the study is to determine whether the T2-FLAIR mismatch phenomenon has any prognostic value beyond initial noninvasive molecular diagnosis. METHODS: Patients initially diagnosed with histologically lower-grade (2 or 3) IDH-mutant astrocytoma and with at least 2 surgical resections were included in the GLASS-NL cohort. T2-FLAIR mismatch was determined, and the growth pattern of the recurrent tumor immediately before the second resection was annotated as invasive or expansive. The relation between the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign and tumor grade, microcystic change, overall survival (OS), and other clinical parameters was investigated both at first and second resection. RESULTS: The T2-FLAIR mismatch sign was significantly related to Grade 2 (80% vs 51%), longer post-resection median OS (8.3 vs 5.2 years), expansive growth, and lower age at second resection. At first resection, no relation was found between the mismatch sign and OS. Microcystic change was associated with areas of T2-FLAIR mismatch. CONCLUSIONS: T2-FLAIR mismatch in IDH-mutant astrocytomas is correlated with microcystic change in the tumor tissue, favorable prognosis, and Grade 2 tumors at the time of second resection