Teaching Bayesian Model Comparision with the Three-Sided Coin

In the present work we introduce the problem of determining the probability that a rotating and bouncing cylinder (i.e. flipped coin) will land and come to rest on its edge. We present this problem and analysis as a practical, nontrivial example to introduce the reader to Bayesian model comparison. Several models are presented, each of which take into consideration different physical aspects of the problem and the relative effects on the edge landing probability. The Bayesian formulation of model comparison is then used to compare the models and their predictive agreement with data from hand-flipped cylinders of several sizes

The Interaction Between Global Task Motivation and the Motivational Function of Events on Self-Regulation: Is Sauce for The Goose, Sauce for The Gander?

An experiment was conducted to assess (1) the interaction between global task motivation and motivational aspects of the environment (level of controls and autonomy-support present in the environment) and (2) gender differences with regard to this interaction. Forty male and forty female participants with high and low levels of self-determination towards relaxation attempted to learn relaxation using biofeedback in an either controlling or autonomy-supportive environment. The results confirm the notion that global task motivation and intervention style interact. Further, this interaction is qualified by a gender effect. The resulting triple interaction suggests that a different pattern of relations between the motivational aspects of the environment and level of self-determination emerges for men and women. Une expérimentation a été réalisée afin d'évaluer (1) l'interaction entre la motivation globale vis-à-vis une tâche et différents styles de mobilisation (degré d'un style d'intervention contrôlant et de soutien à l'autonomie) et (2) le rôle du genre dans cette interaction. Quarante hommes et quarante femmes ayant un niveau soit élevé ou faible d'autodétermination envers une tâche de relaxation ont participé à une tâche d'apprentissage à la relaxation à l'aide de biofeedback avec un intervenant qui présentait un style soit contrôlant soit de soutien à l'autonomie. Les résultats confirment la présence d'effets d'interactions entre le niveau d'autodétermination (motivation globale) et le style de l'intervention. Le genre du participant qualifie également cette interaction. L'interaction triple suggère l'existence de différentes formes de relations entre les aspects mobilisateurs de l'environnement et le niveau d'autodétermination pour les hommes et les femmes.Controlling and autonomy-supportive intervention style, global-state task motivation, self-determination theory, gender, person-environment interactions, physiological responses, self-regulation learning, Style d'intervention contrôlant-soutien à l'autonomie, motivation globale-d'état vis-à-vis une tâche, théorie de l'autodétermination, interaction environnement-personne, genre, réactions physiologiques, apprentissage auto-régulation

Quantitative PET-CT Perfusion Imaging of Prostate Cancer

Functional imaging of 18F-Fluorocholine PET holds promise in the detection of dominant prostatic lesions. Quantitative parameters from PET-CT Perfusion may be capable of measuring choline kinase activity, which could assist in identification of the dominant prostatic lesion for more accurate targeting of biopsies and radiation dose escalation. The objectives of this thesis are: 1) investigate the feasibility of using venous TACs in quantitative graphical analysis, and 2) develop and test a quantitative PET-CT Perfusion imaging technique that shows promise for identifying dominant prostatic lesions. Chapter 2 describes the effect of venous dispersion on distribution volume measurements with the Logan Plot. The dispersion of venous PET curves was simulated based on the arterio-venous transit time spectrum measured in a perfusion CT study of the human forearm. The analysis showed good agreement between distribution volume measurements produced by the arterial and venous TACs. Chapter 3 details the mathematical implementation of a linearized solution of the 3-Compartment kinetic model for hybrid PET-CT Perfusion imaging. A noise simulation determined the effect of incorporating CT perfusion parameters into the PET model on the accuracy and variability of measurements of the choline kinase activity. Results indicated that inclusion of CT perfusion parameters known a priori can significantly improve the accuracy and variability of imaging parameters measured with PET. Chapter 4 presents the implementation of PET-CT Perfusion imaging in a xenograft mouse model of human prostate cancer. Image-derived arterial TACs from the left ventricle were corrected for partial volume and spillover effects and validated by comparing to blood sampled curves. The PET-CT Perfusion imaging technique produced parametric maps of the choline kinase activity, k3. The results showed that the partial volume and spillover corrected arterial TACs agreed well with the blood sampled curves, and that k3max was significantly correlated with tumor volume, while SUV was not. In summary, this thesis establishes a solid foundation for future clinical research into 18F-fluorocholine PET imaging for the identification of dominant prostatic lesions. Quantitative PET-CT Perfusion imaging shows promise for assisting targeting of biopsy and radiation dose escalation of prostate cancer

A theoretical/experimental program to develop active optical pollution sensors

Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology was applied to the assessment of air quality, and its usefulness was evaluated by actual field tests. Necessary hardware was successfully constructed and operated in the field. Measurements of necessary physical parameters, such as SO2 absorption coefficients were successfully completed and theoretical predictions of differential absorption performance were reported. Plume modeling improvements were proposed. A full scale field test of equipment, data analysis and auxiliary data support was conducted in Maryland during September 1976

Use of LARS system for the quantitative determination of smoke plume lateral diffusion coefficients from ERTS images of Virginia

A technique for measuring smoke plume of large industrial sources observed by satellite using LARSYS is proposed. A Gaussian plume model is described, integrated in the vertical, and inverted to yield a form for the lateral diffusion coefficient, Ky. Given u, wind speed; y sub l, the horizontal distance of a line of constant brightness from the plume symmetry axis a distance x sub l, downstream from reference point at x=x sub 2, y=0, then K sub y = u ((y sub 1) to the 2nd power)/2 x sub 1 1n (x sub 2/x sub 1). The technique is applied to a plume from a power plant at Chester, Virginia, imaged August 31, 1973 by LANDSAT I. The plume bends slightly to the left 4.3 km from the source and estimates yield Ky of 28 sq m/sec near the source, and 19 sq m/sec beyond the bend. Maximum ground concentrations are estimated between 32 and 64 ug/cu m. Existing meteorological data would not explain such concentrations

Détection du Heterobasidion annosum au Québec

Depuis 1955, le champignon Heterobasidion annosum, cause de la maladie du rond, n'était présent, dans l'est du Canada, que dans le sud de l'Ontario. En 1968, le champignon fut identifié plus au nord, près des frontières du Québec. À partir de 1983, un groupe de quatre plantations de pins rouges (Pinus resinosa) ayant déjà été éclaircies a fait l'objet d'un programme de surveillance, ce qui nous a permis de détecter le H. annosum dans la plantation de Mayo en 1989. Cette détection constitue la première mention de la présence du champignon au Québec. En 1993, on a observé la maladie dans une autre plantation du groupe, à Saint-Philippe-d'Argenteuil. Une troisième plantation infectée a aussi été trouvée près de Harrington en 1993, mais elle nefaisait pas partie du groupe sous surveillance. Elle aurait été infectée avant les autres, soit en 1977. La détection du H. annosum au Québec démontre l'urgence d'effectuer des traitements préventifs dans les plantations de pins rouges lors de l'éclaircie et d'éradiquer la maladie dans les trois plantations infectées pendantqu'il en est encore temps.Since 1955, the fungus Heterobasidion annosum, the causal agent of annosus root rot, was present in Eastern Canada but only in southern Ontario. In 1968, the presence of the fungus was noted further north, near the Quebec border. A group of four already thinned red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantations has been monitored by us since 1983, leading to the detection of H. annosum in the Mayo plantation in 1989. That was the first report of the disease in Quebec. In 1993, we found the disease in another plantation of this group, at Saint-Philippe-d'Argenteuil. A third infected plantation was also found near Harrington in 1993, but it was not part of the group monitored. It probably became infected before the others, in 1977. The detection of H. annosum in Quebec shows the importance of using preventive measures during the thinning of red pine plantations, and of eradicating the disease in the three infected plantations while it is still possible

Resistance of Pinus banksiana to the European race of Gremmeniella abietina

Au début des années 80, plus de 90 % de mortalité causée par Gremmeniella abietina, race européenne, a été relevée dans des plantations de pin rouge (Pinus resinosa) localisées à environ 200 km au nord-ouest de Montréal, Québec, Canada. Les pins gris ( Pinus banksiana) avoisinants ne semblaient pas attaqués. Les forestiers ont donc reboisé ces aires avec des semis de pin gris. Des parcelles d'études de 100 pins gris ont été établies dans trois plantations sur les quatre sélectionnées en 1988. Comme références, des semis de pin rouge ont été plantés dans des conditions semblables dans la quatrième plantation en 1989. Les observations annuelles se sont déroulées de 1989 à 1992. La mortalité des semis de pin rouge atteignait 70 % en 1992 alors que les pins gris des trois sites expérimentaux n'étaient pas attaqués, à l'exception d'une brûlure à l'extrémité des pousses, caractéristique qui permet d'identifier la race au champ. Les symptômes de la race nord-américaine étaient présents à un taux très bas; leur incidence a augmenté sur le site I en 1992. Plus de 10 ans après la plantation, les pins gris montrent une résistance à la race européenne de G. abietina alors que tous les pins rouges sont morts.In the early 1980s, more than 90% of mortality caused by Gremmeniella abietina, European race, was recorded in red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantations 200 km northwest of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Surrounding jack pines (Pinus banksiana) did not appear to be affected. Consequently, foresters began to plant the affected areas with jack pine seedlings. In 1988, plots of 100 jack pines were established in three of the four selected plantations. As reference, red pine seedlings were planted in 1989 under similar conditions in the fourth plantation. Observations were carried out annually from 1989 to 1992. Mortality of red pine seedlings reached 70% in 1992 while all jack pines on the three experimental sites were free of the disease except for a tip blight, a distinctive feature allowing race identification in the field. The North American race symptoms were present at a very low incidence, but began to increase on site I in 1992. More than 10 years after planting, the jack pine trees still show resistance to the European race of G. abietina while all the red pines died

Silicon materials task of the low cost solar array project, part 2

Purity requirements for solar cell grade silicon material was developed and defined by evaluating the effects of specific impurities and impurity levels on the performance of silicon solar cells. Also, data was generated forming the basis for cost-tradeoff analyses of silicon solar cell material. Growth, evaluation, solar cell fabrication and testing was completed for the baseline boron-doped Czochralski material. Measurements indicate Cn and Mn seriously degrade cell performance, while neither Ni nor Cu produce any serious reduction in cell efficiency

Manufacturing checkout of orbital operational stages Midterm report, period ending 24 Feb. 1965

Manufacturing checkout of orbital operational Saturn S-IVB stage and instrument unit for parking orbit operation