The complex role of perceptual organization in visual display design theory.

Two experiments were performed to test and extend the current 'emergent features' approach to display design for dynamic failure detection tasks. It was predicted that a display whose emergent features were well-mapped to goal-relevant task invariants would lead to better failure detection performance than either of two alternative displays. Contrary to prediction. Experiment 1 showed no differences in failure detection speed or accuracy across displays. The reason for this may have been that subjects did not discover the mapping between the mathematical properties of the task and the emergent feature, so in Experiment 2 subjects were explicitly instructed about the mapping and were advised on how to use the display geometry to help their performance. A significant difference in failure detection speed emerged, but the display supporting fastest performance was not the one with the well-mapped emergent feature. These results suggest that alternative perceptual organizational factors were at work which overpowered the intended effect. The results also underscore the difficulty of developing a theory of display design, and their impact on current theories is outlined.     

Space-domain method of moments solution for a strip on a dielectricslab

This paper presents a space-domain method of moments (MoM) solution to the problem of a strip dipole on a dielectric slab. The solution involves the use of a special junction basis function which models the nearly singular polarization currents in the vicinity of the strip/dielectric junction     

Crystallization of glass forming melts under hydrostatic pressure and shear stress: Part II Flow induced melt crystallization: a new method of nucleation catalysis

In this second part of a thorough investigation into the influence of external pressure and shear stress on melt crystallization the effect of shear stress is analysed. Both pseudoplastic and dilatant liquids are examined, and are possible effects of the respective rheological behaviour are discussed. It is shown that the very nature of pseudoplastic liquids leads to a reduction of their viscosity, which results in increased nucleation and crystal growth rates, whilst the non-steady-state time lag is, on the contrary, reduced. Experimental evidence supporting the above idea is discussed. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The integration of process and geometry within an open architecture machine tool controller

The authors discuss in detail the anticipated future requirements of an advanced control for metal cutting machine tools; of particular interest is the integration of process monitoring and optimization with the normal processes of interpolation and axis control. A detailed discussion of the philosophy underlying the development of the UBC open architecture machine tool controller and its current capabilities is also presented.     

Improving manufacturing by cost-effective process modeling

Computer-aided engineering tools are routinely used to simulate forging and heat-treatment operations and to perform thermal and stress analyses. This review gives a few examples of the current uses of process modeling tools and outlines some developing capabilities and near-term applications.     

On the oxygen deficiency of high-T c Y1Ba2Cu3O7-µ ceramics

The role of oxygen deficiency in Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_{7 ? μ} ceramics has been investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential thermogravimetry (DTG), linear thermal expansion (LTE), and by soft x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SXFS). The interdependence of the measured parameters and some of the stability criteria are discussed.     

Assessment of improvement of myocardial fatty acid uptake and function after revascularization using iodine-123-BMIPP

We investigated the effect of bioflavonoid quercetin on tyrosine phosphorylation and phospholipase D (PLD, EC 3.1.4.4) activation in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils stimulated by N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). The quercetin dose-dependently inhibited degranulation and superoxide production in fMLP-stimulated neutrophils. A strong inhibitory effect of quercetin on the tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins (40, 42, 43, 45, 46 and 75 kDa) was observed when the neutrophils were pretreated with different concentrations of quercetin. Furthermore, quercetin inhibited mitogen activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) and PLD activation induced by fMLP in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction in PLD activity was 30% at 0.1 microM and 70% at 100 microM of quercetin. These results suggest that impairment of neutrophil functions by quercetin may be due, at least in part, to inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation and PLD activation.