Characterization and chromosomal mapping of two pseudogenes of the mouse Pafaha/Lis1 gene: retrointegration hotspots in the mouse genome

This study examines the relationship between trainees' conjugal family experience, current intergenerational family relationships, and the client's perception of the therapeutic alliance. Participants were 74 first practicum family therapy trainees, representing two family therapy programs, and 90 clients. Results indicated a moderately significant relationship between conjugal family experience and trainees' reported intergenerational intimacy with parents. Additionally, clients whose therapists had conjugal family experience reported a slightly more favorable therapeutic alliance than clients whose therapists did not have conjugal family experience. Additionally, trainees with conjugal family experience reported more current intimacy and individuation than nonconjugal trainees and felt less intimidated by their parents.     

Study on the acid hydrolysis of Peat: 1. extraction of carbohydrates

Peat and its derived products such as peat extracts or hydrolysates offer a variety of possibilities as raw materials for the development of chemical and biochemical processes. Acid hydrolysis of peat yields soluble carbohydrates which can be utilised as fermentation media. In this work, Sphagnum peat moss was hydrolysed under various conditions of H₂SO₄ concentration, retention time, temperature, peat concentration, peat particle size distribution and original moisture content in the peat. The results suggest that mild conditions of hydrolysis, which will minimise possible negative effects on other nutrients available in peat, are adequate for the release of the carbohydrates present in peat. It was found that peat particle size distribution and original moisture content as well as peat concentration will also affect the yield of carbohydrates obtained.     

Star couplers using fused biconically tapered multimode fibres

We report the fabrication and testing of 4-, 7-and 19-fibre fused biconical taper transmissive star couplers for use with single multimode fibres. Overall insertion losses on six couplers range from ?1.3 dB to ?2.6 dB. Losses are nearly independent of N, the number of fibres, but dispersion of the powers in the output fibres increases significantly with N.     

Hydrogenation of CO and CO2 on carbon black-supported Ru catalysts

The activity and selectivity of both unsupported Ru and carbon black-supported Ru catalysts toward the hydrogenation of CO and CO₂ have been investigated in order to learn about the effect of metal particle size on both reactions. The specific activity for both reactions decreases with metal particle size and the product distribution obtained in the hydrogenation of CO (the hydrogenation of CO₂ only yields methane) is also a function of metal dispersion; thus, the proportion of methane produced increases and the olefin/paraffin decreases with decreasing Ru particle size. This behaviour is attributed to changes in the electronic properties of the Ru crystallites in close contact with the graphitised carbon black used as support.     

Redundant system of passive markers for ultrasound scanhead tracking

Scanhead tracking by opto-electronic (OE) systems allows high accuracy in three-dimensional (3-D) freehand ultrasound imaging. In this paper, a new set of methods is proposed and compared with the standard approach [Gram-Schmidt method (GS)]. Three redundancy-based algorithms are introduced to compensate for possible loss of markers during data acquisition: regression plane (RP), multiple Gram-Schmidt (MGS), and center of mass least square (CMLS). When combined with the ultrasound instrument, the root-mean-squared (RMS) uncertainty in locating target points, over a working volume of 420 mm x 490 mm x 100 mm, improved by 7% and 24% using MGS and CMLS method respectively, compared to GS. A lower improvement was obtained with RP methods (5%), using the best marker configuration. In conclusion, CMLS method provides a robust and accurate procedure for 3-D freehand ultrasound scanhead tracking, able to manage possible loss of markers, with interesting perspectives for image fusion and body referenced 3-D ultrasound.     

Convergence of the IRWLS Procedure to the Support Vector Machine Solution

An iterative reweighted least squares (IRWLS) procedure recently proposed is shown to converge to the support vector machine solution. The convergence to a stationary point is ensured by modifying the original IRWLS procedure.     

Intelligent virtual agents keeping watch in the battlefield

One of the first areas where virtual reality found a practical application was military training. Two fairly obvious reasons have driven the military to explore and employ this kind of technique in their training; to reduce exposure to hazards and to increase stealth. Many aspects of combat operations are very hazardous, and they become even more dangerous if the combatant seeks to improve his performance. Some smart weapons are autonomous, while others are remotely controlled after they are launched. This allows the shooter and weapon controller to launch the weapon and immediately seek cover, thus decreasing his exposure to return fire. Before launching a weapon, the person who controls that weapon must acquire/perceive as much information as he can, not only from its environment, but also from the people who inhabits that environment. Intelligent virtual agents (IVAs) are used in a wide variety of simulation environments, especially in order to simulate realistic situations as, for example, high fidelity virtual environment (VE) for military training that allows thousands of agents to interact in battlefield scenarios. In this paper, we propose a perceptual model, which seeks to introduce more coherence between IVA perception and human being perception, increasing the psychological coherence between the real life and the VE experience. Agents lacking this perceptual model could react in a non-realistic way, hearing or seeing things that are too far away or hidden behind other objects. The perceptual model, we propose in this paper introduces human limitations inside the agents perceptual model with the aim of reflecting human perception.     

Correlation between morphology and stress—strain properties of three block copolymers i. stress-softening effect

The stress-softening effect, which comes out when SBS three block copolymers are stretched, is taken into consideration and the conclusion is reached that it is due to a disruption of the polystyrene continuous phase, according to the hypothesis of other authors. This conclusion is supported by two kinds of experiments performed on samples having a well known and simple morphology. First of all by stress-strain measurements on specimens previously swollen: it can be seen that the stress-softening effect disappears as soon as the structure of the material is completely modified by the treatment. Secondly by the direct observation at the electron microscope of the structure after the deformation. This shows how the original continuous and regular polystyrene rods of the “single crystal” assume a string of pearl structure which finally is irreversibly disrupted.     

Crystallisation kinetics and morphology of high density polyethylene containing organic and inorganic pigments

Some organic pigments, present in very small amounts (0.1 to 0.2%), can cause warpage and shrinkage phenomena in moulded parts of linear polyethylene. Investigations on such phenomena have been carried out by dilatometric and morphological analysis. The influence on polyethylene crystallisation kinetics and morphology of such organic and inorganic pigments, which do not cause any deformation effect, has been studied. The experimental results show that only organic pigments increase the crystallisation rate, by acting as nucleating agents; in these cases, moreover, the crystalline grain is smaller and the typical morphology of polyethylene crystallised in bulk is altered. A possible correlation between the nucleating action and the warpage effect of organic pigments on moulded polyethylene is discussed.