Graphical presentation of boolean expressions in a database query language: design notes and an ergonomic evaluation

A new query language designed to improve ease-of-use and ease-of-learning for 'naive' users is presented. Its main interest is to avoid the explicit use of boolean operators for set operations by pointing on Venn diagrams. A human factors comparison with a more traditional design has been performed, using a query writing task. Results show that graphic representation of selected subsets allows less error-prone queries in a single relation database.     

Modelling of the chemical composition of alkaline hot waters

The computer program MEQTP, which calculates the composition of a geothermal water and follows the evolution of the composition during temperature and pressure changes, has been applied to some springs from the south of France. This represents a first attempt at taking pressure changes into account in calculating pressure as well as temperature of the deep reservoirs supplying the thermal springs. The calculated temperature corresponds well with the values obtained by means of classical geothermometers and from previous calculations, in which pressure variations are neglected. Calculation of pressure requires a better understanding of the mechanism (read the mineral) controlling the Mg²⁺ concentration in the geothermal waters.     

Immunologic and renal markers among photogravure printers exposed to toluene

Despite the severity of ankle syndesmosis injuries, it has been argued that they are relatively poorly detected. This study investigated the interrater reliability of four orthopaedic tests for ankle syndesmosis injury and assessed their ability to predict the extended recovery times that have been reported as a consequence of this injury. Nine physiotherapists, working in random pairings, examined 53 subjects, all receiving treatment for ankle injury at two private clinics. Each subject was tested by two physiotherapists who independently performed the palpation test, external rotation test, squeeze test, and dorsiflexion-compression test. Kappa coefficient testing indicated that the external rotation test had the best interrater reliability (kappa = 0.75). The squeeze test was found to have moderate reliability (kappa = 0.50), and the palpation and dorsiflexion-compression tests both had only fair reliability (kappa = 0.36). The degree of pair-wise association between the results of the four tests was low (phi < or = 0.30 for all test combinations), suggesting that if all four tests were performed on the same subject, it was not likely that they would achieve similar results. Follow-up interviews were conducted to determine the time taken for subjects to walk 10 m without pain and, for sports injuries, the time taken to return to training and then to competition. For each test, Mann-Whitney U values showed no significant difference between the recovery times of subjects with positive or negative test results, although subjects with recovery times markedly longer than normal were detected by three of the four tests. When an either/or combination of the external rotation and dorsiflexion-compression tests was considered, subjects with a positive test result took significantly longer to return to playing sports.     

Differences in patterns of pup care in Mus musculus: VI. Uses of segregating generations to dissociate behavioral units in retrieving.

A genetic analysis of 2 inbred strains of mice (NZB and CBA/H) and their Mendelian crosses conducted by C. Michard and P. Roubertoux (see record 1985-05922-001) demonstrated genetic correlates for 3 variables selected to measure retrieval behavior (first retrieval latency, move away without transporting pups, and nest with all pups). Because these behavioral phenotypes were intercorrelated in the 11 strains making up the population, the present study tested for correlations among their genetic correlates, that is, whether these variables were functionally dependent or were genetically correlated (pleiotropy, linkage). Findings indicate that the correlations are significant for the nonsegregating generations (parental strains NZB and CBA/H, and their F?s) and decrease significantly in at least some segregating generations (F? and backcrosses). The decrease in correlation implies that the genetic correlates of the 3 variables are different. The physiological mechanisms underlying the maintenance of pup care behavior are discussed. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Static hot carrier populations as a function of optical excitation energy detected through energy selective contacts by optically assisted IV

We investigated the behavior of carrier populations generated at the interface of an n‐Si wafer to an Si quantum dot (QD) array embedded in SiO₂ with a photon flux ranging from 1.24 to 2.48 eV (1000 to 500 nm). The optically assisted IV method was used with the Si wafer as hot carrier (HC) absorber and the Si QD array as energy selective contact (ESC). Charge carriers obtain excess energy from photons with energies significantly exceeding the band gap, resulting in an HC population. This reduces the bias field required to provide kinetic energy by field emission. The ESC can collect HCs at lower bias voltages. Tunneling resonances show the energy selective behavior under illumination at 80 K and room temperature (295 K). The data at 80 K can arguably be interpreted as an HC population in Si within the range of the ballistic mean free path from the QD array. We discovered a correlation between the energetic shift of the average hot hole temperature near the valence band edge and the energy of the photons impinging on the mesa structures. The optically assisted IV technique delivers a proof of principle for operation of an Si QD array as an ESC at room temperature, and furthermore for an HC solar cell with one ESC at 80 K. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.