Showing papers by "Georgia College & State University published in 2006"

Customers' Perception of Electronic Service Delivery in the UK Retail Banking Sector

Abstract: Purpose – This study aims to explore the key factors of the electronic service quality (e‐SQ) perceptions of UK banking customers and to evaluate the customers’ perceptions of their banks’ actual performance on the identified e‐SQ dimensions.Design/methodology/approach – A survey has been used to collect primary data and 135 usable questionnaires were used in the analysis. Questionnaire items were developed through a two‐stage process involving a review of the main measurement scales employed in previous studies and two focus group interviews to identify a series of attributes for assessing electronic banking service quality. Factor analysis procedure was employed to identify the underlying structure among the explored e‐SQ attributes.Findings – Exploratory factor analysis uncovered six composite dimensions of electronic service quality, including the provision of convenient/accurate electronic banking operations; the accessibility and reliability of service provision; good queue management; service perso...

Exertional heat illness and environmental conditions during a single football season in the southeast

Abstract: Stressful environmental conditions can present numerous problems for the athletic participant. Exertional heat illness (EHI) is often associated with physical activity in a hot and humid environment; the incidence of EHI is correlated with the rise in ambient air temperature and humidity. 1 Extreme environmental heat places significant stress on the body's ability to perform while thermoregulatory responses are occurring in various internal organs. 2 These responses include mobilizing nutrients and electrolytes and maintaining an appropriate equilibrium of body fluids and increasing body temperature, pH, and blood pressure. If the organ systems do not respond appropriately, the athlete may develop a serious and potentially catastrophic medical condition. From 1979 through 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 8015 deaths among the general population that were attributable to heat-related illnesses as a result of exposure to excessive heat in the United States. 3 Although most of these fatalities were not sport related, the recent and untimely deaths of several professional, collegiate, and high school athletes as a result of heat-related illnesses have generated national attention related to the risk of exertional heat stress illnesses among athletes. Many professional organizations have published position statements 4–12 regarding the appropriate ways to recognize, treat, and prevent these illnesses. To guard against EHI during athletic events, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has studied the effects of heat stress and has made specific recommendations (ie, position statements) regarding the participation of individuals in stressful environments. These recommendations consist of guidelines that measure heat stress and define the severity of heat stress by a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index. 12 Based on the WBGT at the time of the event, the ACSM also has recommendations regarding the type, duration, and frequency of exercise regimes for a particular day, the frequency of hydration and rest breaks, and whether or not the activity should be moved to a different time of day or canceled altogether. 10 The WBGT Index is the most widely accepted measure of environmental conditions and is used as a monitoring guideline for activities in both athletics and industry. The development of the WBGT equation is well supported by the research performed by Yaglou and Minard 13 and is referenced by many agencies and governing bodies. 3–5, 8, 11, 12, 14–18 The WBGT Index is derived from 3 independent environmental readings: dry bulb temperature (ambient air temperature, dt), wet bulb temperature (humidity, wbt), and black globe temperature (radiant heat, bgt) using the equation below 13: WBGT Index = 0.7wbt + 0.2bgt + 0.1dt Using the WBGT Index score along with published guidelines allows sports medicine professionals to make decisions regarding the intensity, length, time of day, and required rest periods for exercise sessions in hot and humid environments. Since 1975, ACSM has published 3 position statements addressing the prevention of heat illnesses as it applies to distance running. 10, 12, 19 The original statement was updated in 1987 to include thermal injuries affecting not only distance runners but also the general population. 10 In 1996, the ACSM again updated the position statement by addressing exercise in extreme environmental conditions for both the recreational jogging community and elite distance runners, as seen in Table 1. 12 This guideline includes a WBGT Index Risk Chart that delineates temperature ranges and descriptive terminology for potential environmental heat stress. Table 1 American College of Sports Medicine Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index Risk Chart 5,12* The ACSM Risk Chart recommendations were derived for the general community, recreational joggers, and elite distance runners. These recommendations are to be applied to all geographic areas of the United States and do not take into account sex differences, specific age populations, environmental conditions unique to the different regions of the country, equipment worn during activity, or the size or preexisting level of conditioning or fitness of the athlete. 10 Our purpose was to evaluate the WBGT and the incidence of EHI during American football practice sessions at 5 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Southeastern universities from August through October 2003.

Improvising masculinity: African American fraternity membership in the construction of a black masculinity

Abstract: Begun as an exploration of the meaning and function of fraternity membership in the lives of African American men on a predominantly white campus, the interview data revealed the important role the fraternity played in the construction of a unique masculine identity. This identity is connected both to Connell’s (1997) model of hegemonic masculinity and to the model of Afrocentric socialization found in Akbar (1990) and W. Oliver (1989), among others. The content of this identity forms a sort of amalgamation masculinity which incorporates the sometimes contradictory social locations (race, class, and gender) of the fraternity members.

In Defense of Silos: An Argument Against the Integrative Undergraduate Business Curriculum

Abstract: The literature urges business schools to change their undergraduate curricula in response to changes in the models and methods currently used by corporate America. Critics contend that business sch...

Gender Matters: Differences in State Probation Officer Stress

Abstract: The causes of stress for criminal justice practitioners, including probation officers, can generally be categorized into four areas: internal to the organization, external to the organization, the ...

An exploratory study of the accessibility of state government Web sites

Abstract: This paper focuses on Web accessibility. Relevant legislation and judicial decisions are reviewed, and prior empirical research is presented. This study presents the results from the Web accessibility analysis of the home pages of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It found that twenty-nine percent of the home pages do not meet the requirements for Conformance Level A Web accessibility. Only one state meets Conformance Level AA standards, which are the minimum standards recommended for Web accessibility, and no state meets Conformance Level AAA standards. This paper also discusses how to address common accessibility problems.

Utility of high resolution x-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) for paleobotanical studies: an example using London Clay fruits and seeds.

Abstract: High resolution x-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) was used to image pyritized fossil fruits from the Lower Eocene London Clay flora to test the utility of this technique for paleobotanical application. The combination of carbon-pyrite preservation and void spaces between fruit and seed layers within fossils provides differences in density and composition that enable excellent imaging. Fossil fruits of Palaeorhodomyrtus subangulata (Bowerbank) Reid & Chandler (Myrtaceae) were investigated in situ within their silicone fluid conservation medium, which protects these unstable fossils from oxygen and humidity. HRXCT recovers taxonomically informative anatomical and morphological detail and provides a means of nondestructive examination of delicate type materials and other important specimens. These results suggest that HRXCT will be applicable to a broad spectrum of pyritized fossils to record structural details in inherently unstable materials.

The relationship between pelvic cross syndrome and chronic low back pain

Abstract: Objective: Specific patterns of muscle impairments, known as Pelvic Cross Syndrome (PCS), in the lumbo-pelvic region have been attributed to causing chronic Low Back Pain (LBP). In PCS, based on their primary functions, muscles are categorized as "postural" or "phasic", and it has been assumed that phasic (abdominal and gluteal muscle weakness) or postural (decreased flexibility in the hip flexor and back extensor) muscle impairments could lead to an exaggerated Lumbar Lordosis (LL), which in turn might cause chronic low back pain. PCS theory also indicates that exaggerated lordosis in impaired subjects is controlled by hamstring muscle shortening. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among Pelvic Cross Syndrome, degree of lumbar lordosis and chronic low back pain. Design: A total of 600 subjects between the ages of 20 and 65 were selected. Subjects were categorized into four groups of males and females with and without low back pain. The degree of LL, the strength of abdominal and gluteal muscles and the extensibility of iliopsoas, erector spine, and hamstring muscles were measured in each group. The cut-off values obtained from Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to categorize subjects as having weak or short muscles in accordance with the PCS assumptions. The degree of lumbar lordosis in subjects with and without patterns of muscle impairments, and the association between lumbar lordosis and low back pain and the effects of hamstring muscle length on lordosis were assessed. Results: The results of this study showed no significant difference in the degree of LL in subjects with and without patterns of muscle impairment, or in subjects with and without LBP, or in those with and without short hamstring muscles. However, a significant difference in the strength of abdominal and gluteal; and in the length of hip flexor and hamstring muscles was found between subjects with and without LBP. Conclusions: The findings of this study did not support the assumptions of the PCS theory that certain patterns of muscle impairment would lead to exaggerated LL and LBP. Our data indicated that certain muscle impairments could contribute to chronic LBP, but probably not via changing the degree of lumbar lordosis as has been proposed in PCS theory.

Remarkable Disk and Off-nuclear Starburst Activity in the "Tadpole Galaxy" as revealed by the Spitzer Space Telescope

Abstract: We present ground-based optical and Spitzer Space Telescope infrared imaging observations of the interacting galaxy UGC 10214, the Tadpole galaxy (z = 0.0310), focusing on the star formation activity in the nuclear, disk, spiral arms, and tidal tail regions. The ground-based optical data set spans a wavelength range between 0.3 and 0.8 μm, the near-IR data set spans 1–2.2 μm, and the Spitzer IR data set spans 3–70 μm. The major findings of this study are that the Tadpole is actively forming stars in the main disk outside of the nucleus and in the tidal plume, with an estimated mean star formation rate of ~2–4 M⊙ yr-1. The most prominent sites of mid-IR emission define a "ring" morphology that, combined with the overall morphology of the system, suggests the interaction may belong to the rare class of off-center collisional ring systems that form both shock-induced rings of star formation and tidal plumes. In stark contrast to the disk star formation, the nuclear emission is solely powered by older stars, with little evidence for ongoing star formation at the center of the Tadpole. Extranuclear star formation accounts for >50% of the total star formation in the disk and spiral arms, featuring infrared-bright "hot spots" that exhibit strong polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission, the band strength of which is comparable to that of late-type star-forming disk galaxies. The tidal tail, which extends 2' (~75 kpc) into the intergalactic medium, is populated by supermassive star clusters, M ~ 106 M⊙, likely triggered by the galaxy-galaxy interaction that has distorted UGC 10214 into its current "tadpole" shape. The Tadpole is therefore an example of an off-nuclear or tidal-tail starburst, with several large sites of massive star formation in the disk and in the plume, including the most prominent Hubble Space Telescope–revealed cluster, J160616.85+552640.6. The clusters exhibit remarkable IR properties, including exceptionally strong 24 μm emission relative to the underlying starlight, hot dust continuum, and PAH emission, with an estimated current star formation rate of ~0.1–0.4 M⊙ yr-1, representing >10% of the total star formation in the system. We estimate the mass of the largest cluster to be ~ × 106 M⊙ based on the g'-band (0.5 μm) and near-IR (2.2 μm) integrated fluxes in combination with an assumed mass-to-light ratio appropriate to young clusters, or large enough to be classified as a nascent dwarf galaxy or globular cluster.

Perceptions, knowledge, and commitment of clinical staff to shared governance.

Abstract: The perceptions, knowledge, and commitment of clinical staff to shared governance were explored in a nonexperimental, survey research design, wherein preimplementation responses were compared to postimplementation responses. Using a nonprobability sampling method, all clinical staff members had the opportunity to respond to the Shared Governance Survey at the preimplementation and the 1-year postimplementation period. Thirty-eight clinical areas, including inpatient and outpatient areas, were included in the study. Both surveys contained a short demographic section and the Shared Governance Survey adapted from Minors et al. Results showed a decrease in perception and knowledge of shared governance between the 2 survey periods. This pattern was attributed to the idealism of shared governance in the preimplementation period compared to the reality of implementing shared governance. Interestingly, commitment to shared governance increased during this same time. When the sample was divided into groups, participants in shared governance had significantly higher scores on perception and knowledge of shared governance than did nonparticipants. Overall, participants and nonparticipants were committed to shared governance. The results of the survey indicated that clinical staff members recognized shared governance as a process, not a project, and that it takes time to share responsibility, accountability, and authority for nursing practice.

The phylogeny of the Hydroporinae and classification of the genus Peschetius Guignot, 1942 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

Abstract: The phylogeny of the Hydroporinae is investigated in a cladistic analysis emphasizing placement of the genus Peschetius Guignot, historically placed in the tribe Hydroporini. Sixty-nine adult and larval morphological characters were coded for 61 species of Hydroporinae representing eight of the nine tribes. Cladistic analysis of the data resulted in 396 most parsimonious cladograms (length = 176, CI = 46, RI = 80). The results indicate that the genus Peschetius is the sister group to the tribe Bidessini based mainly on an unambiguous character, the presence of a prominent internal spermathecal spine, and several other more ambiguous or homoplasious characters. The tribe Bidessini is expanded to include the genus Peschetius, and it is formally transferred from the tribe Hydroporini. Other results indicating interesting relationships of tribes and genera within Hydroporinae are also discussed. Results include; 1) a dramatically paraphyletic Hydroporini with Laccornellus Roughley and Wolfe, Canthyporus Zimmermann and Hydrocolus Roughley and Larson in basal positions within the phylogeny, 2) Hydrovatus Motschulsky and Queda Sharp resolved as sister groups and not closely related to Methlini van den Branden, 3) support for close relationship of Pachydrus Sharp (Pachydrini Bistrom, Nilsson and Wewalka) with Hyphydrini Sharp, 4) paraphyly of Hygrotus Stephens sensu lato with the relationship H. (Coelambus) Thomson + (Hygrotus sensus stricto + Hydrovatini)) suggesting recognition of Coelambus and Hygrotus as separate genera, 5) close relationship between the Australian genera of Hydroporini and Hyphydrini and 6) the nesting of Vatellini within a group of Hydroporini.

Susiea newsalemae gen. et sp. nov. (Nymphaeaceae): Euryale‐like Seeds from the Late Paleocene Almont Flora, North Dakota, U.S.A.

Abstract: Susiea newsalemae Taylor, DeVore & Pigg gen. et sp. nov. is described for distinctive seeds referable to the water lily family Nymphaeaceae from the Late Paleocene Almont Flora of central North Dakota, U.S.A. Seeds are oval to barrel shaped, 5 mm long 33 mm wide, and have an apical operculum and a prominent lateral raphe. The outer surface of the seeds is composed of palisade, shinglelike cells 40 mm high 3150 mm wide with smooth cell margins lacking papillae. The operculum is 1 mm across and surrounded by a narrow furrow, covering the micropyle but not the hilum. The raphe and micropyle are separated by several cells. Several specimens have a small embryo cavity surrounded by a small area of presumed endosperm below the micropyle and a well-developed perisperm filling the rest of the seed cavity. Susiea seeds are most similar to those of extant Euryale but differ in features of the epidermal cells, seed coat, and raphe morphology. They also share some features with Nymphaea, Nuphar, and Victoria. Susiea appears distinct from the permineralized fossil seeds of the middle Eocene Allenbya from the Princeton chert, Nuphar wutuensis from the Eocene of China, and Nuphar cf. wutuensis from the same Almont beds. Susiea is the oldest fossil taxon of the Euryale lineage, extending the previous Oligocene record back to the Late Paleocene and documenting a significantly older age for the Euryale/Victoria clade that is clearly a derived lineage based on phylogenetic analyses of modern taxa.

A description and functional interpretation of the mandibular geometry of Agabus punctatus Melsheimer, 1844, Rhantus calidus (Fabricius, 1792) and Acilius mediatus (Say, 1823), (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

Abstract: Eleven morphometric, geometric, and/or biomechanical parameters are developed and presented as quantitative descriptors of dytiscid mandibles. These include arc, angle of attack, maximum camber, position of maximum camber, basal angle, and abductor and adductor gear ratios. This quantifiable character set distinguishes mandibles of Acilius from those of Agabus and Rhantus, a likely indication of exploitation of an open water prey regime by larvae of Acilius. Components of this prey regime are probably encountered only rarely by larvae of A. punctatus, and R. calidus. The comparison of A. punctatus, and R. calidus also revealed significant differences between mandibles of these two species with respect to proportional length, arc, angle of attack, and maximum camber. These differences suggest that the prey regimes exploited in situ by larvae of each of these two also includes different prey species.

A Program Using Environmental Manipulation, Music Therapy Activities, and the Somatron© Vibroacoustic Chair To Reduce Agitation Behaviors of Nursing Home Residents with Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract: Agitation is a behavior frequently associated with residents of nursing home facilities, especially persons with diagnoses of dementia or associated brain disorders. Agitated behaviors can affect the entire facility and have the potential to impact overall quality of life. Finding positive, non-pharmaceutical, interventions to control agitation is a challenge for health care professionals. This study describes a program using multiple interventions of environmental noise reduction, controlled background music, individualized receptive and active music therapy, and vibroacoustic sessions with the Somatron. The program was implemented for 6 months and included 2 interventions. The first intervention was to manipulate the facility environment. The second intervention was to identify residents not responding to the environmental manipulation and refer them to music therapy. Three residents were referred during the intervention period. An original assessment instrument Somatron Placement Matrix was developed to assign residents to individualized music therapy sessions, Somatron sessions, or a combination of the two. Results indicated a reduction of 82% in accidents/incidents, 91% reduction of PRN medication, 36% reduction in STAT orders by physicians, and a reduction of unplanned staff absences of 44% during the intervention period. Case study information (n = 1) of individualized music therapy sessions resulted in a 100% decrease of 2 identified agitation behaviors, 71% decrease in one identified behavior, and 11% decrease in one behavior. Case study information of the Somatron sessions (n = 2) resulted in none of the baseline agitation behaviors being present and an increase in positive behaviors of closing eyes during sessions, coherent verbalizations during sessions, and an increase in positive verbalizations. Introduction Agitation behaviors are easily observed when entering a nursing home, especially a facility in which residents have psychiatric disorders. Behaviors associated with agitation may include muscle tension, irritability, aggression, repetitive body movements, restlessness, and inappropriate verbalizations (Cohen-Mansfield, Marx, & Rosenthal, 1989). Identifying precipitators of agitation and finding positive, non-pharmaceutical, interventions to reduce agitation will benefit individual residents and can create a calm, relaxing milieu that enhances quality of life. Causes for agitation stem from a variety of factors and usually have multiple influences. The individual's personality before hospitalization, level of cognitive functioning, medication, and degree of disorientation and confusion may all play a role in exhibiting behaviors (Giacino, 2003). The nursing home setting consists of heterogeneous placements, large numbers of persons residing in close proximity, and regimens that are necessary for medical treatment. These factors can produce a stressful environment. Agitation may be related to this potentially stressful environment and even is a means for patients to communicate displeasure at their surroundings (Ragneskog, Kihigren, Gerdner, & Josefsson, 1998). Environmental noise levels have also been frequently cited as a contributing factor in agitation behaviors. McClaugherty, Valibhai, Womack, and Desai (2003) evaluated the effects of noise on patients and staff in 13 nursing homes. Typical noises were intercom systems, telephones, cleaning equipment, and televisions. Behaviors reported by staff in response to high noise levels were irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and increases in errors. It is a rational assumption that patients will have similar responses to the same stimuli. Patients, however, may not have the communication or coping skills necessary to tolerate the noise. Even more importantly, patients have limited control over the situation and cannot remove themselves from the stimuli. Using background music to mask environmental noises in conjunction with lowering the actual noise levels has been shown to reduce episodes of agitation among patients. …

US-Based Franchise Systems

Abstract: This study assesses both firm and relationship characteristics that may differentiate US-based franchisors that have internationalized operations from those that do not. Multiple discriminant analysis is used and shows that both firm and relationship characteristics are important discriminators. Not surprisingly, international franchise systems are larger and exhibit lower levels of solidarity. A surprising finding, however, is that international systems exhibit lower levels of opportunism, in spite of greater geographic and cultural proximity. Interestingly, a number of firm characteristics (number of domestic units, number of franchised versus company-owned units, firm age, and experience with franchising) and relationship characteristics (flexibility, trust, behavioral transparency, and effectiveness) were not significant discriminators between domestic and international franchisors. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are provided.

Improving GPU particle filter with shader model 3.0 for visual tracking

Abstract: Human-Computer Interaction is evolving towards non-contact devices using perceptual user interfaces. Recent research in human motion analysis and visual object tracking make use of the Particle Filter (PF) framework. The PF algorithm enables the modeling of a stochastic process with an arbitrary probability density function, by approximating it numerically with a set of samples called particles. The DirectX Shader Model is a common framework for accessing graphics hardware features in terms of shading functionality. In particular, Shader Model 3.0 compliant graphics cards must support features such as dynamic branching, longer shader programs and texture lookups from vertex buffers, among others. In this work, we propose new improvements on previous CPU/GPU Particle Filter frameworks [Montemayor et al. 2004; Lanvin et al. 2005]. In particular, we have reduced bandwidth requirements in the data allocation stage using GPU texture reads instead of CPUGPU memory transfers. But more importantly, using new features in Shader Model 3.0 we can move all the previous particle filtering CPU stages to the GPU, keeping all the computation on the video card and avoiding expensive data readback.

Pharmacokinetics of Metronidazole Administered as a Single Oral Bolus to Red Rat Snakes, Elaphe guttata

Abstract: The pharmacokinetics of metronidazole was evaluated in 16 red rat snakes, Elaphe guttata, after a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg (n=8) or 150 mg/kg (n=8). Blood samples were collected at predetermined intervals over a 48 hr period. Plasma concentrations of metronidazole were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Metronidazole dosed at 50 mg/kg was eliminated with a half-life of 11.1 hr. The apparent volume of distribution (steady state) was 0.053 L/kg, the apparent oral clearance was 3.04 ml/hr, and the mean residence time was 18.5 hr. The plasma concentration of metronidazole exceeded the recommended minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in both treatment groups at all time points for at least 48 hr. Based on this study it can be concluded that oral administration of 50 mg/kg of metronidazole to red rat snakes every 48 hr would maintain more than adequate plasma concentrations against susceptible anaerobic bacteria and protozoa.

The Ethical Intention and Prediction Matrix: Reducing Perceptual and Cognitive Biases for Learning

Abstract: Perceptual and cognitive biases are significant factors influencing ethical judgment, conduct, and learning. These biases inhibit the quality of students’ personal engagement, inquiry, and learning on cases and exercises assigned in business ethics courses. The purpose of this article is to describe certain common biases involved in the perception and interpretation of ethical dilemmas and to introduce a survey-feedback tool that can help students recognize and reduce some of these biases for ethical decision making.

Explaining momentum profits with an epidemic diffusion model

Abstract: We show that information diffusion is a function of its dissemination and assimilation. Whereas dissemniation is a function of observable factors such as volume and price volatility, assimilation is dependent on unobservable factors such as the usefulness and reliability of information. We find that buying low volume (or low volatility) past losers and shortselling low volume (or low volatility) past winners generates a positive net return across the entire sample period and especially during bear markets. Second, buying high volatility past winners and shortselling high volatility past losers generates a positive net return, especially during bear markets.

Kentuckia : A 4,6,8-connected tetragonal structural pattern in space group P4/nmm

Abstract: The crystal structure of a novel, hypothetical 4,6,8-connected tetragonal structural pattern with the ternary stoichiometry ABC2 is described. The novel pattern belongs to the P4/nmm space group (no. 129). It possesses the Wells point symbol (44(412612)(412)2 and has the Wellsean Schlafli index (4.4615, 6). The new structural type may be represented by ternary bimetallic oxide in which two oxygen atoms within the unit cell adopt octahedral coordination with respect to two different metal atoms. A probable composition is CaPtO2.

Using online self-assessment in introductory programming classes

Abstract: When the Computer Science faculty changed from covering control structures before using classes to an objects-first approach in an introductory programming course, students struggled to learn the material. The end-of-semester grades were notably lower than past years. To help students understand the concepts introduced in the new format, the faculty began requiring students to use two different online self-assessment tools to enhance their learning.

Men's Heterosexual Initiation: Sexual Agency and Empowerment in Post-World War II American Culture

Abstract: Scholars suggest that heterosexual initiation is a social process that inhibits women yet entitles men to shape and control the pace and practices within sexual interaction. Radical feminists in particular have successfully detailed the patriarchal organization within the institution of heterosexuality. Yet their critical insights have tended to neglect or minimize the changing contours of the sexual landscape as well as the question of what exactly makes men's sexual agency patriarchal. Studying 60 white, non-Hispanic, middle-class men from Philadelphia, this article highlights the possible conditions for men to assert various patriarchal configurations of sexual agency in post-World War II American culture during initial forays into heterosexuality. The social psychological analysis suggests that younger men perceive women today as the symbolic keepers of masculine sexual standards, enabling them to judge sexual performances through their previous experiences with other men. While men appear more aware ...

Implementation of residue number systems on GPUs

Abstract: In recent years, the processing power of graphics processing units (GPUs) has greatly exceeded that of desktop central processing units (CPUs). The current NVidia 7800 series GPU boasts a total throughput of over 300 GFLOPs at peak performance. Furthermore, the rate of increase in processing power in GPUs is roughly double that of Moore’s Law for CPUs. Recent research has examined the use of this computational power for other applications from signal processing to bioinformatics and beyond.

Astrophysical S factor for the 7 Li(d,n 0 ) 8 Be and 7 Li(d,n 1 ) 8 Be reactions

Abstract: The absolute astrophysical S factor and cross section for the {sup 7}Li(d,n{sub 0}){sup 8}Be and {sup 7}Li(d,n{sub 1}){sup 8}Be reactions have been determined using deuteron beams with energies between 45 and 80 keV. The slope of the S factor is consistent with zero in the n{sub 0} case but is slightly negative in the n{sub 1} case. The S factor for the sum of both neutron groups at c.m. energies below 70 keV is S(E)=5400({+-}1500)-37({+-}21)E keV b, where E is the c.m. energy in keV.