TSL—A Texture Synthesis Language

TheTexture Synthesis Language (TSL) is a new high-level graphics language which provides tools for defining and generating regular and random (irregular) synthetic textures. The textures are used to fill in planar regions or can be mapped onto other surfaces. The building block for generating textures is a texture tile, i.e., a rectangular matrix oftexels (texture elements). The programmer constructs texture tiles utilizing predefined constant tiles, user-defined tiles, and texel-based operations. Tiles can be transformed and combined in various ways, and can then be used to tessellate planar polygons.This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under grant DCR-86-03603     

Continuous simulation of a car-following equation

Traffic behavior along an urban roadway is explored using a continuous simulation model of a leader-follower pair of vehicles. The model employs a non-linear car-following differential equation that characterizes the motion of the pair. The implementation of the conceptual model is programmed in the continuous simulation language, MIMIC. In analyzing the results, an emphasis is placed on the formulation of a simple exponential expression that describes the pair motion. This exponential formula may replace the traditional differential equation in sketching pair behavior and platoon dispersion in traffic systems and simulation models.     

Good looks may help: Effects of helper's physical attractiveness and sex of helper on males' and females' help-seeking behavior.

96 19–21 yr old Ss were asked to solve a detective story and were under the impression that correct solutions could be obtained only after a specified number of preliminary questions were answered correctly. Some of these questions were unanswerable, and Ss could ask another S for help. In line with past research (E. Bercheid and E. Walster, 1974; A. Nadler, see PA, Vol 66:5817; H. Sigall and E. Aronson, PA, Vol 43:8310; S. Stokes and L. Bickman, PA, Vol 54:3045), data indicate that for same-sex others, Ss tended to seek less help from physically attractive than unattractive helpers. In cases of cross-sex helping (a) males sought less help from a physically attractive female than an unattractive female and (b) females sought more help from a physically attractive than an unattractive male. Findings are discussed in terms of a self-presentation approach to interpersonal help-seeking behavior. A model of help-seeking and self-presentation is presented. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correction to Shirom.

Reports an error in the original article by Shirom (Journal of Applied Psychology. Vol 67(1) Feb 1982, 45-52). a percentage was incorrectly reported. On page 45, the fourth line from the bottom of the abstract, the value 21% should read 12%. In addition, one of the values in Table 2 (page 50) was incorrectly labeled significant. The asterisk for the value .21 (the adjusted mean for R2) should be deleted. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1982-10870-001.) Management perceptions of advantageous settlements of strikes were predicted by the extent to which the struck plant was kept in operation, the extent to which a mediator was involved, frequency of strikes in the plant in the past, duration of the strike and its breadth. Data from 51 chief management negotiators show that past frequency, duration, and a mediator's involvement were not significant as predictors. The management's perception of strike settlement as advantageous was found to be positively affected either by large breadth of the strike or by the management's success in keeping the plant in operation during the strike. Results indicate that management's power to resist strikes by operating the struck plant is a significant predictor. Findings cast doubt on the notion that unions are successful in identifying as strike targets employers who are vulnerable to the costs imposed by a strike. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Flame retardant polyesters based on bromine derivatives

Unsaturated polyesters containing halogens in the backbone of the polymer chain were synthesized. Derivatives used had brominated functional groups such as tetrabromobisphenol A, tetrabromophthalic anhydride, and dibromoneopentyl glycol. These were compared to chlorine-containing polyesters based on HET acid and tetrachlorophthalic anhydride and an additive exhibiting a synergistic effect of phosphorus and halogen, trichloroethyl phosphate. Optical properties before and after artificial weathering (up to 1650 hr), were determined on cast specimens, and mechanical properties (flexural strength, modulus, and hardness) and flame retardancy were determined on glass fiber laminates. The flammability tests consisted of the “oxygen index” and the “self-extinguishing time” tests, which were correlated for various halogen concentrations and different compositions. The efficiency of bromine in flame retardancy has been found to be much higher than that of chlorine. The minimal concentration of bromine required for self-extinguishing is 10–12%, as compared with 20–25% for chlorine. A general performance index for polyesters has been derived which incorporates both flame and weather resistivity factors of the modified polyesters.     

Recipient reactions to aid.

Presents a comprehensive review of research and theory on reactions to help, organized in terms of 4 conceptual orientations (equity, attribution, reactance, and threat to self-esteem). For each orientation, the basic assumptions and predictions are discussed, supportive and nonsupportive data are reviewed, and an overall appraisal is offered. Threat to self-esteem is proposed as an organizing construct for research on reactions to help, and a model based on this construct is presented. It is argued that a formalized threat-to-self-esteem model is more comprehensive and parsimonious for predicting reactions to help than are equity, attribution, or reactance models. (111 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Low dose powdered activated carbon addition at high sludge retention times to reduce fouling in membrane bioreactors

The addition of a low concentration of PAC (0.5 g L⁻¹ of sludge, i.e. a dose of 4 mg L⁻¹ of wastewater), in combination with a relatively long SRT (50 days), to improve membrane filtration performance was investigated in two pilot-scale MBRs treating real municipal wastewater. Continuous filterability tests at high flux showed the possibility to run for 18 h at 72 L m⁻² h⁻¹ and 180 h at 50 L m⁻² h⁻¹, while significant fouling occurred without PAC. In addition, measurements of the critical flux showed an increase of 10% for this strategy. Low dosage and high retention time makes it feasible and cost effective. Further advantages with regard to permeate quality and possible micropollutants removal are currently under investigation.     

In vitro cytotoxicity of oxide nanoparticles: comparison to asbestos, silica, and the effect of particle solubility

Early indicators for nanoparticle-derived adverse health effects should provide a relative measure for cytotoxicity of nanomaterials in comparison to existing toxicological data. We have therefore evaluated a human mesothelioma and a rodent fibroblast cell line for in vitro cytotoxicity tests using seven industrially important nanoparticles. Their response in terms of metabolic activity and cell proliferation of cultures exposed to 0-30 ppm nanoparticles (microg g(-1)) was compared to the effects of nontoxic amorphous silica and toxic crocidolite asbestos. Solubility was found to strongly influence the cytotoxic response. The results further revealed a nanoparticle-specific cytotoxic mechanism for uncoated iron oxide and partial detoxification or recovery after treatment with zirconia, ceria, or titania. While in vitro experiments may never replace in vivo studies, the relatively simple cytotoxic tests provide a readily available pre-screening method.     

Verifying verified code

Innovations in Systems and Software Engineering - A recent case study from AWS by Chong et al. proposes an effective methodology for Bounded Model Checking in industry. In this paper, we report on...