Values and Science: Reply.

Responds to Kendler (2004), Johnson (2004), and Zuriff (2004) who directed a number of criticisms against the authors' original article (see record 2003-03405-003) examining the psychological data and policy debates surrounding affirmative action. Kendler and Zuriff both chided the authors for interjecting values into the realm of science. The authors, however, state that both seriously misread the argument, imagining that they talked about "morality" when they did not. The authors claim to hold the same view as Kendler and Zuriff about the dichotomy between data and values and revisit portions of their argument further questioned. To Johnson, they state that the issues are not as clear cut as he has suggested. The authors do, however, reevaluate their original article in light of his criticisms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statistical analysis of support films and the visibility of atoms

The statistical properties of an image of an EM support film could be completely specified by evaluating all orders of joint probabilities of the image optical density values. The probability of random fluctuations in the support image interfering with the identification of images of atoms at the vertices of an n-sided polygon can be determined from the nth order statistics. This probability has been calculated as a function of the OD at specified points, for n= 1, 2 and 3. The first order statistics amount to the probability of finding a particular OD in the image, where the width of the distribution gives the standard deviation of the OD values, or contrast. The second order statistics or covariance (correlation) function provide an intuitive understanding of the granularity of the image. We have measured the first and second order statistics of carbon and aluminum oxide films imaged under a variety of conditions, and have found them useful in quantitative assessment and comparison of the images. The lower contrast of the aluminum oxide films is reflected in both the OD distribution and covariance function. The contrast of both types of films is found to be a non-monotonic function of film thickness.     

The compressive behaviour of ABS gyroid lattice structures manufactured by fused deposition modelling

Additive manufactured (AM) cellular structures have received much research attention due to their specific strength and energy absorption capabilities, and     

Ultrasound echogenicity in experimental venous thrombosis

This study characterizes the echogenicity of experimentally induced venous thrombosis. Venous duplex imaging (Diasonics Spectra) was performed of the rat (n 12) and primate (n 3) inferior vena cava (IVC). Thrombosis was induced by IVC ligation at the level of the renal veins (rat, baboon) or balloon occlusion (baboon) of the IVC at the renal vein and iliac vein bifurcation level. Sham-treated rats served as controls. B-mode images were stored for off-line computer analysis. Fixed depth gain control curves allowed for measuring gain-corrected echogenicity units over the IVC in both a longitudinal and transverse orientation. In rat studies, thrombus was removed at time of euthanasia and dissolved, allowing for fibrin monomer determination using a chromogenic assay. Echogenicity values generally increased over time in both rat and primate studies. Significant differences between ligated and sham-treated rats were noted at each time point measured (6 h, 2 days, and 6 days after IVC ligation) and fibrin monomer values correlated (p < 0.05) with echogenicity units. In primate studies, echogenicity values significantly were different from baseline values at all time points measured (6 h, 2 days, 6 days, and 13 days after thrombus induction). Duplex ultrasound can be used to quantitate thrombus echogenicity, which correlates to fibrin content. Such measurement may potentially allow for improved thrombus age determination and the noninvasive quantitation of thrombus progression/resolution.     

FASTBUS Demonstration Systems

This paper will provide a demonstration of basic FASTBUS hardware and test software. The systems will include single crate segments, simple computer I/O, a fast sequencer and memory, some simple diagnostic and display devices and a UNIBUS to FASTBUS processor interface. The equipment will be set up to show the basic FASTBUS protocols and timing transactions, as well as some of the general initialization software features.     

Myocsrdial uptake of technetium-99m stannous pyrophosphate following direct current transthoracic countershock

The effect of direct current (DC) countershock upon myocardial technetium-99m stannous pyrophosphate (PYP) uptake was studied in 22 dogs. All eight dogs imaged had positive abnormal PYP scintigrams that were usually indistinguishable from experimental infarction. In three animals, additional areas of radionuclide uptake were seen in overlying noncardiac tissue. Left and right ventricular myocardial PYP uptake averaged (+/- SEM) 23 +/- 5 times control and 24 +/- 6 times control, respectively. These activity ratios occurred without reduction in regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF), and were associated with histologic evidence of necrosis. The necrosis was usually epicardial, corresponding to the transmural site of greatest PYP uptake. The magnitude of PYP accumulation and the weight of damaged tissue increased with increasing applied energy. Thus, PYP uptake following DC countershock could result in false-positive interpretation of acute ischemic myocardial infarction. Since RMBF is normal in regions of PYP uptake, the major determinant of radionuclide accumulation is the extent of cellular damage.     

Strength and electrical conductivity of a deformation-processed Cu-5 Pct Nb composite

A Cu-5 pct Nb alloy was deformation processed by wire drawing to very large reductions (99.9993 pct) and the strength and electrical conductivity properties compared with similarly deformation processed Cu-20 pct Nb. The results showed that the Cu-5 pct Nb alloy was transformed into a composite material with the original Nb dendrites becoming ribbonlike filaments in a similar fashion to higher Nb-containing Cu-Nb alloys. The degree of strength increase with increasing deformation processing greatly exceeds rule-of-mixtures expectations at higher degrees of deformation processing, where the Nb becomes highly aligned with the wire axis. A 5 pct Nb addition appears to contain close to the minimum amount of Nb phase necessary to produce appreciable strengthening during deformation processing of Cu-Nb alloys. The strength-conductivity properties of the deformation-processed Cu-5 pct Nb alloy show significant improvements in strength over the best commercial alloys in the conductivity range of 80 to 90 pct international annealed copper standard (IACS). This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium “High Performance Copper-Base Materials” as part of the 1991 TMS Annual Meeting, February 17–21, 1991, New Orleans, LA, under the auspices of the TMS Structural Materials Committee.     

Effect of varactor Q-factor on tuning sensitivity of microwave oscillators, including reverse tuning

It is shown how the effect of resistive losses in a varactor diode can drastically affect the tuning characteristics of millimetre-wave oscillators and can even cause the oscillator to tune in the reverse direction.