Hoisting frame facilitates handling of large objects

Hoisting frame can be used with a standard 5-ton forklift to handle the large spreader bars, or other bulky pieces of equipment, much faster and more efficiently than with a boom or gantry crane. In addition forklifts of this type are more readily available

Self-Organizing Maps and Parton Distributions Functions

We present a new method to extract parton distribution functions from high energy experimental data based on a specific type of neural networks, the Self-Organizing Maps. We illustrate the features of our new procedure that are particularly useful for an anaysis directed at extracting generalized parton distributions from data. We show quantitative results of our initial analysis of the parton distribution functions from inclusive deep inelastic scattering.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of "Workshop on Exclusive Reactions at High Momentum Transfer (IV)", Jefferson Lab, May 18th -21st, 201

Effects of ASL Rhyme and Rhythm on Deaf Children’s Engagement Behavior and Accuracy in Recitation

Given the novelty of ASL in Deaf education, there is still much to explore about the specific techniques used to foster Deaf children’s language development. The use of ASL rhyme and rhythm with young Deaf children is one of the approaches that remain understudied. This single-subject study compared the effects of rhyming and non-rhyming conditions of ASL stories on the engagement behavior and accuracy in recitation of 10 Deaf children between the ages of three and six years old in an ASL/English bilingual early childhood classroom. With the application of an alternating treatments design with initial baseline, it is the first experimental research of its kind on ASL rhyme and rhythm. Baseline data revealed the lack of handshape rhyme awareness in participants and informed the decision to provide an intervention as an added condition to examine the effects of explicit instruction on increasing engagement behavior and accuracy in recitation. There were four phases in total: baseline, handshape rhyme awareness intervention, alternating treatments, and preference. Visual analysis and total mean and mean difference procedures were employed to analyze results. Overall, the rhyming condition was the favorable treatment in increasing imitating behavior during viewing. The rhyming condition also prompted an increased number of words signed correctly and words signed in the correct order during recitation. Other variables such as having larger vocabulary knowledge, age-appropriate language skills, higher handshape rhyme awareness, and being older also impacted the results. This handshape rhyme awareness intervention should be taken into consideration for future replications

Self-Organizing Maps Algorithm for Parton Distribution Functions Extraction

We describe a new method to extract parton distribution functions from hard scattering processes based on Self-Organizing Maps. The extension to a larger, and more complex class of soft matrix elements, including generalized parton distributions is also discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, to be published in the proceedings of ACAT 2011, 14th International Workshop on Advanced Computing and Analysis Techniques in Physics Researc

Spin‐Waves in Dilute Antiferromagnets

The effect of dilution on spin waves in isotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnets is studied. The model includes only nearest‐neighbor interactions for a bcc lattice and spin‐wave interactions are neglected, i.e. the results are correct in the limit s→∞. The dynamical susceptibility X (?,ω) and inelastic neutron cross section are obtained for arrays 8192 sites randomly occupied by a concentration c of magnetic ions. For a given array the calculation is done by inverting the dynamical matrix and thus is essentially exact. Our results are as follows. For large k we find that Ising‐like resonances corresponding to different numbers of occupied neighboring sites become increasingly prominent as c is decreased. The envelope of these resonances agrees with previous results using the coherent potential approximation where fluctuations in environment are suppressed. For small k we find a single spinwave resonance broadened by the random dilution. The application of these results to Mnc Zn 1−cF2 is discussed

A Brighter Future for SMS: Cultivating School Coherence Through a Shared Vision

Staunton City Public Schools submitted an RFA (Request for Assistance) to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to address concerns at Shelburne Middle School related to teacher satisfaction, student discipline, and student achievement. Document and data analysis, a site visit, and partner interviews surfaced issues of organizational fragmentation; the capstone team identified the need for a collaboratively constructed and implemented vision to better cohere the school. Through document analysis and stakeholder surveys, our mixed methods study aimed to understand stakeholder views on three aspects to support the work of the leadership team at SMS. First, the capstone team identified the needs in the current state that stakeholders of staff, students, and parents felt were barriers towards deeper change. Next, our study sought to elucidate the top academic values and priorities stakeholders wanted to include in a vision statement. Finally, our survey results identified the future hopes or aspirations stakeholders desire once the vision is fully actualized. Findings from our research showed areas of alignment among stakeholders in both the current and future states. Recommendations focused on addressing current needs, along with providing a framework and timeline for school leadership to re-engage stakeholders in next steps for the development of a shared, collaborative vision

How much solute is needed to inhibit the fluid to gel membrane phase transition at low hydration?

We present a quantitative study of the effect of sugars on the membrane gel-fluid phase transition as a function of sugar:lipid ratio. We show that the maximum effect occurs at around 1.5 sugar rings per molecule for both mono- and di-saccharides. We present a theoretical model to try to explain these results, and discuss the assumptions inherent in the model

CORRELATIONS AMONG GRAIN CHARACTERISTICS USED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF ROUGH RICE STORAGE TIME AND TEMPERATURE ON AROMATIC RICE QUALITY

Summary statistics and corresponding Spearman correlation coefficients are illustrated for various subsets of aromatic rough rice storage time and temperature data from (a) the College Station texture sensory panel, (b) the New Orleans aroma and flavor sensory panel, and (c) the Beaumont USDA-ARS Rice Quality Laboratory. These correlations represent the inclinations of seemingly-related measures of several attributes to "move together," acting as an indicator of their associations with or impacts on one another.Crop Production/Industries,

CORRELATIONS AMONG GRAIN CHARACTERISTICS USED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF MILLED RICE STORAGE TIME AND TEMPERATURE ON AROMATIC RICE QUALITY

Summary statistics and corresponding Spearman correlation coefficients are illustrated for various subsets of aromatic milled rice storage time and temperature data from (a) the College Station texture sensory panel, (b) the New Orleans aroma and flavor sensory panel, and (c) the Beaumont USDA-ARS Rice Quality Laboratory. These correlations represent the inclinations of seemingly-related measures of several attributes to "move together," acting as an indicator of their associations with or impacts on one another.Crop Production/Industries,

Renormalization-Group Approach to Percolation Problems

The relation between the s-state Ashkin-Teller-Potts (ATP) model and the percolation problem given by Fortuin and Kasteleyn is used to formulate a renormalization-group treatment of the percolation problem. Both an ε expansion near 6 spatial dimensions and cluster approximations for the recursion relations of a triangular lattice are used. Series results for the ATP model are adapted to the percolation problem