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This article is from Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) , volume 8 . Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the relative sensitivity and specificity of 10-2 visual fields (10-2 VFs), multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in detecting hydroxychloroquine retinopathy. Methods: A total of 121 patients taking hydroxychloroquine (n=119) or chloroquine (n=2) with 10-2 VF, mfERG, and SD-OCT tests were retrospectively reviewed. Rates of test abnormality were determined. Results: Retinopathy was present in 14 and absent in 107. Eleven of 14 (78.6%) patients with retinopathy were overdosed. Twelve (85.7%) had cumulative dosing greater than 1,000 g. The sensitivities of 10-2 VF, mfERG, and SD-OCT in detecting retinopathy were 85.7%, 92.9%, and 78.6%, respectively. The specificities of 10-2 VF, mfERG, and SD-OCT in detecting retinopathy were 92.5%, 86.9%, and 98.1%, respectively. Positive predictive values of 10-2 VF, mfERG, and SD-OCT in detecting retinopathy were less than 30% for all estimates of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy prevalence. Negative predictive values were >99% for all tests. Conclusion: Based on published estimates of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy prevalence, all three tests are most reliable when negative, allowing confident exclusion of retinopathy in patients taking ≤6.5 mg/kg/day. Each test is less useful in allowing a confident diagnosis of retinopathy when positive, especially in patients taking ≤6.5 mg/kg/day.

224 pages : 28 cm

Autostereoscopic displays offer users the unique ability to view 3-dimensional (3D) imagery without special eyewear or headgear. However, the user's head must be within limited eye boxes or viewing zones. Little research has evaluated these viewing zones from a human-in-the-loop, subjective perspective. In the first study, twelve participants evaluated the quality and amount of perceived 3D images. We manipulated distance from observer, viewing angle, and stimuli to characterize the perceptual viewing zones. The data was correlated with objective measures to investigate the amount of concurrence between the objective and subjective measures. In a second study we investigated the benefit of generating stimuli that take advantage of monocular depth cues. The purpose of this study was to determine if one could develop optimal stimuli that would give rise to the greatest 3D effect with off-axis viewing angles. Twelve participants evaluated the quality of depth perception of various stimuli each made up of one monocular depth cue (i.e., linear perspective, occlusion, haze, size, texture, and horizon) . Viewing zone analysis is discussed in terms of optimal viewing distances and viewing angles. Stimuli properties are discussed in terms of image complexity and depth cues present.

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The primary objective of this research project was to produce a research capability to perform detailed CFD simulations and Scientific Visualization analysis of unsteady, three-dimensional, compressible, viscous flow fields about flight vehicle configurations of interest to the Department of Defense (DoD). The target applications include, but are not limited to, separation of single or multiple stores from aircraft or missiles, launch vehicle or missile booster separation, separation of crew escape modules or ejection seats, separation of fairings, etc. from missile systems, and maneuvering aircraft or missiles. Target flow conditions include, compressible flow regimes with vehicles operating at Mach numbers from high subsonic to moderate hyper-sonic, laminar and turbulent viscous flow, and flow of gases in chemical and thermal equilibrium.

This article is from Frontiers in Psychology , volume 5 . Abstract Although several studies have suggested that cortical alterations underlie such age-related visual deficits as decreased acuity, little is known about what changes actually occur in visual cortex during healthy aging. Two recent studies showed changes in primary visual cortex (V1) during normal aging; however, no studies have characterized the effects of aging on visual cortex beyond V1, important measurements both for understanding the aging process and for comparison to changes in age-related diseases. Similarly, there is almost no information about changes in visual cortex in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. Because visual deficits are often reported as one of the first symptoms of AD, measurements of such changes in the visual cortex of AD patients might improve our understanding of how the visual system is affected by neurodegeneration as well as aid early detection, accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of AD. Here we use fMRI to first compare the visual field map (VFM) organization and population receptive fields (pRFs) between young adults and healthy aging subjects for occipital VFMs V1, V2, V3, and hV4. Healthy aging subjects do not show major VFM organizational deficits, but do have reduced surface area and increased pRF sizes in the foveal representations of V1, V2, and hV4 relative to healthy young control subjects. These measurements are consistent with behavioral deficits seen in healthy aging. We then demonstrate the feasibility and first characterization of these measurements in two patients with mild AD, which reveal potential changes in visual cortex as part of the pathophysiology of AD. Our data aid in our understanding of the changes in the visual processing pathways in normal aging and provide the foundation for future research into earlier and more definitive detection of AD.

This paper presents a robust and efficient semi-dense visual odometry solution for RGB-D cameras. The core of our method is a 2D-3D ICP pipeline which estimates the pose of the sensor by registering the projection of a 3D semi-dense map of the reference frame with the 2D semi-dense region extracted in the current frame. The processing is speeded up by efficiently implemented approximate nearest neighbour fields under the Euclidean distance criterion, which permits the use of compact Gauss-Newton updates in the optimization. The registration is formulated as a maximum a posterior problem to deal with outliers and sensor noises, and consequently the equivalent weighted least squares problem is solved by iteratively reweighted least squares method. A variety of robust weight functions are tested and the optimum is determined based on the characteristics of the sensor model. Extensive evaluation on publicly available RGB-D datasets shows that the proposed method predominantly outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods.

This paper presents a robust and efficient semi-dense visual odometry solution for RGB-D cameras. The core of our method is a 2D-3D ICP pipeline which estimates the pose of the sensor by registering the projection of a 3D semi-dense map of the reference frame with the 2D semi-dense region extracted in the current frame. The processing is speeded up by efficiently implemented approximate nearest neighbour fields under the Euclidean distance criterion, which permits the use of compact Gauss-Newton updates in the optimization. The registration is formulated as a maximum a posterior problem to deal with outliers and sensor noises, and consequently the equivalent weighted least squares problem is solved by iteratively reweighted least squares method. A variety of robust weight functions are tested and the optimum is determined based on the characteristics of the sensor model. Extensive evaluation on publicly available RGB-D datasets shows that the proposed method predominantly outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods.

This paper presents a robust and efficient semi-dense visual odometry solution for RGB-D cameras. The core of our method is a 2D-3D ICP pipeline which estimates the pose of the sensor by registering the projection of a 3D semi-dense map of the reference frame with the 2D semi-dense region extracted in the current frame. The processing is speeded up by efficiently implemented approximate nearest neighbour fields under the Euclidean distance criterion, which permits the use of compact Gauss-Newton updates in the optimization. The registration is formulated as a maximum a posterior problem to deal with outliers and sensor noises, and consequently the equivalent weighted least squares problem is solved by iteratively reweighted least squares method. A variety of robust weight functions are tested and the optimum is determined based on the characteristics of the sensor model. Extensive evaluation on publicly available RGB-D datasets shows that the proposed method predominantly outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods.

Temporal dynamics are a well known feature of synaptic transmission. Recently temporal dynamics of synaptic transmission has been reported in neocortex. Here we examine the possible effects of these dynamics on the spatio-temporal receptive fields of simple cells in VI. We do this by examining a simple model of a cortical neuron that depends on an oriented thalamocortical projection. In our model, the receptive field (RF) structure is encoded either as a structured presynaptic probability of release or as a structured postsynaptic efficacy. We show that these different assumptions about the origin of receptive field structure lead to very different spatio-temporal dynamics. The structured efficacy model (SE) leads to tuning curves that are unimodal, and although the response magnitude changes in time, the preferred orientation does not. On the other hand, the structured probability model (PR) leads to tuning curves which are not unimodal and change their preferred orientation in time. We show that the temporal code induced by the dynamic synapses can be used for distinguishing between different input that induce the same average firing rate.

Temporal dynamics are a well known feature of synaptic transmission. Recently temporal dynamics of synaptic transmission has been reported in neocortex. Here we examine the possible effects of these dynamics on the spatio-temporal receptive fields of simple cells in VI. We do this by examining a simple model of a cortical neuron that depends on an oriented thalamocortical projection. In our model, the receptive field (RF) structure is encoded either as a structured presynaptic probability of release or as a structured postsynaptic efficacy. We show that these different assumptions about the origin of receptive field structure lead to very different spatio-temporal dynamics. The structured efficacy model (SE) leads to tuning curves that are unimodal, and although the response magnitude changes in time, the preferred orientation does not. On the other hand, the structured probability model (PR) leads to tuning curves which are not unimodal and change their preferred orientation in time. We show that the temporal code induced by the dynamic synapses can be used for distinguishing between different input that induce the same average firing rate.

Temporal dynamics are a well known feature of synaptic transmission. Recently temporal dynamics of synaptic transmission has been reported in neocortex. Here we examine the possible effects of these dynamics on the spatio-temporal receptive fields of simple cells in VI. We do this by examining a simple model of a cortical neuron that depends on an oriented thalamocortical projection. In our model, the receptive field (RF) structure is encoded either as a structured presynaptic probability of release or as a structured postsynaptic efficacy. We show that these different assumptions about the origin of receptive field structure lead to very different spatio-temporal dynamics. The structured efficacy model (SE) leads to tuning curves that are unimodal, and although the response magnitude changes in time, the preferred orientation does not. On the other hand, the structured probability model (PR) leads to tuning curves which are not unimodal and change their preferred orientation in time. We show that the temporal code induced by the dynamic synapses can be used for distinguishing between different input that induce the same average firing rate.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract Purpose: To cluster test points in glaucoma patients' 30-2 and 10-2 visual field (VF) (Humphrey Field Analyzer: HFA, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) in order to map the different regions damaged by the disease. Method: This retrospective study included 128 eyes from 128 patients. 142 total deviation (TD) values (74 from the 30-2 VF and 68 from the 10-2 VF) were clustered using the ‘Hierarchical Ordered Partitioning And Collapsing Hybrid – Partitioning Around Medoids’ algorithm. The stability of the identified clusters was evaluated using bootstrapping. Results: 65 sectors were identified in total: 38 sectors were located outside the 10-2 VF whereas 29 sectors were located inside the 10-2 VF (two sectors overlap in both grids). The mapping of many sectors appeared to follow the distribution of retinal nerve fiber bundles. The results of bootstrapping suggested clusters were stable whether they were outside or inside the 10-2 VF. Conclusion: A considerable number of sectors were identified in the 10-2 VF area, despite the fact that clustering was carried out on all points in both the 30-2 VF and 10-2 VF simultaneously. These findings suggest that glaucomatous central VF deterioration cannot be picked up by the 30-2 test grid alone, because of poor spatial sampling; denser estimation of the central ten degrees, than offered by the 30-2 test grid alone, is needed. It may be beneficial to develop a new VF test grid that combines test points from 30-2 and 10-2 VFs – the results of this study could help to devise this test grid.

This article is from Frontiers in Neural Circuits , volume 8 . Abstract Although many computational models have been proposed to explain orientation maps in primary visual cortex (V1), it is not yet known how similar clusters of color-selective neurons in macaque V1/V2 are connected and develop. In this work, we address the problem of understanding the cortical processing of color information with a possible mechanism of the development of the patchy distribution of color selectivity via computational modeling. Each color input is decomposed into a red, green, and blue representation and transmitted to the visual cortex via a simulated optic nerve in a luminance channel and red–green and blue–yellow opponent color channels. Our model of the early visual system consists of multiple topographically-arranged layers of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, with sparse intra-layer connectivity and feed-forward connectivity between layers. Layers are arranged based on anatomy of early visual pathways, and include a retina, lateral geniculate nucleus, and layered neocortex. Each neuron in the V1 output layer makes synaptic connections to neighboring neurons and receives the three types of signals in the different channels from the corresponding photoreceptor position. Synaptic weights are randomized and learned using spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP). After training with natural images, the neurons display heightened sensitivity to specific colors. Information-theoretic analysis reveals mutual information between particular stimuli and responses, and that the information reaches a maximum with fewer neurons in the higher layers, indicating that estimations of the input colors can be done using the output of fewer cells in the later stages of cortical processing. In addition, cells with similar color receptive fields form clusters. Analysis of spiking activity reveals increased firing synchrony between neurons when particular color inputs are presented or removed (ON-cell/OFF-cell).

This article is from Frontiers in Neural Circuits , volume 8 . Abstract Although many computational models have been proposed to explain orientation maps in primary visual cortex (V1), it is not yet known how similar clusters of color-selective neurons in macaque V1/V2 are connected and develop. In this work, we address the problem of understanding the cortical processing of color information with a possible mechanism of the development of the patchy distribution of color selectivity via computational modeling. Each color input is decomposed into a red, green, and blue representation and transmitted to the visual cortex via a simulated optic nerve in a luminance channel and red–green and blue–yellow opponent color channels. Our model of the early visual system consists of multiple topographically-arranged layers of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, with sparse intra-layer connectivity and feed-forward connectivity between layers. Layers are arranged based on anatomy of early visual pathways, and include a retina, lateral geniculate nucleus, and layered neocortex. Each neuron in the V1 output layer makes synaptic connections to neighboring neurons and receives the three types of signals in the different channels from the corresponding photoreceptor position. Synaptic weights are randomized and learned using spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP). After training with natural images, the neurons display heightened sensitivity to specific colors. Information-theoretic analysis reveals mutual information between particular stimuli and responses, and that the information reaches a maximum with fewer neurons in the higher layers, indicating that estimations of the input colors can be done using the output of fewer cells in the later stages of cortical processing. In addition, cells with similar color receptive fields form clusters. Analysis of spiking activity reveals increased firing synchrony between neurons when particular color inputs are presented or removed (ON-cell/OFF-cell).

This document provides comparative salary trend data for full-time faculty at 212 public and 337 private colleges and universities, based on two surveys, one for the baseline year 1992-93 and the other for the "trend" year 1995-96. For each of 26 disciplines, a summary review provides a definition of the discipline; information on average salaries by rank, including "new assistant professor"; faculty mix percentage; and comparisons between the two study years and the Consumer Price Index. Appended to the review of each discipline are lists of the 41 disciplines surveyed and the public and private institutions that participated in that segment of the study. Data and summary details are provided for the following disciplines/major fields: History, General; Home Economics; Instructional Media Technology; Library Science; Mathematics; Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies; Music, General; Nursing; Occupational Therapy; Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies; Philosophy and Religion; Physical Science; Physical Therapy; Physics; Political Science, General; Psychology; Protective Services; Public Health; Reading Teacher Education; Social Sciences; Social Work; Sociology; Special Education; Speech Pathology and Audiology; Teacher Education; and Visual and Performing Arts. (CH)

This final report has four sections. We first describe the actual scientific results attained by our research team, followed by a description of the high performance computing research enhancing those results and prompted by the scientific tasks being undertaken. Next, we describe our research in data and program visualization motivated by the scientific research and also enabling it. Last, we comment on the indirect effects this research effort has had on our work, in terms of follow up or additional funding, student training, etc.

The three-dimensional, spectral transport model used in the current project was first successfully integrated over climatological time scales by Dr. Guang Ping Lou for the simulation of atmospheric N2O using the United Kingdom Meteorological Office (UKMO) 4-dimensional, assimilated wind and temperature data set. A non-parallel, FORTRAN version of this integration using a fairly simple N2O chemistry package containing only photo-chemical reactions was used to verify our initial parallel model results. The integrations reproduced the gross features of the observed stratospheric climatological N2O distributions but also simulated the structure of the stratospheric Antarctic vortex and its evolution. Subsequently, Dr. Thomas Kindler, who produced much of the parallel version of our model, enlarged the N2O model chemistry package to include N2O reactions involving O(D-1) and also introduced assimilated wind data from NASA as well as UKMO. Initially, transport calculations without chemistry were run using Carbon-14 as a non-reactive tracer gas with the result that large differences in the transport properties of the two assimilated wind data sets were apparent from the resultant Carbon-14 distributions. Subsequent calculations for N2O, including its chemistry, with the two input winds data sets with verification from UARS satellite observations have refined the transport differences between the two such that the model's steering capabilities could be used to infer the correct climatological vertical velocity fields required to support the N2O observations. During this process, it was also discovered that both the NASA and the UKMO data contained spurious values in some of the higher frequency wave components, leading to incorrect local transport calculations and ultimately affecting the large scale properties of the model's N2O distributions, particularly at tropical latitudes. Subsequent model runs with wind data that had been filtered to remove some of the high frequency components produced much more realistic N2O distributions. During the past few months, the UKMO wind data base for a complete two-year period was processed into spectral form for model use. This new version of the input transport data base now includes complete temperature fields as well as the necessary wind data. This was done to facilitate advanced chemical calculations in the parallel model which often depend upon temperature. Additional UKMO data is being added as it becomes available.

The three-dimensional, spectral transport model used in the current project was first successfully integrated over climatological time scales by Dr. Guang Ping Lou for the simulation of atmospheric N2O using the United Kingdom Meteorological Office (UKMO) 4-dimensional, assimilated wind and temperature data set. A non-parallel, FORTRAN version of this integration using a fairly simple N2O chemistry package containing only photo-chemical reactions was used to verify our initial parallel model results. The integrations reproduced the gross features of the observed stratospheric climatological N2O distributions but also simulated the structure of the stratospheric Antarctic vortex and its evolution. Subsequently, Dr. Thomas Kindler, who produced much of the parallel version of our model, enlarged the N2O model chemistry package to include N2O reactions involving O(D-1) and also introduced assimilated wind data from NASA as well as UKMO. Initially, transport calculations without chemistry were run using Carbon-14 as a non-reactive tracer gas with the result that large differences in the transport properties of the two assimilated wind data sets were apparent from the resultant Carbon-14 distributions. Subsequent calculations for N2O, including its chemistry, with the two input winds data sets with verification from UARS satellite observations have refined the transport differences between the two such that the model's steering capabilities could be used to infer the correct climatological vertical velocity fields required to support the N2O observations. During this process, it was also discovered that both the NASA and the UKMO data contained spurious values in some of the higher frequency wave components, leading to incorrect local transport calculations and ultimately affecting the large scale properties of the model's N2O distributions, particularly at tropical latitudes. Subsequent model runs with wind data that had been filtered to remove some of the high frequency components produced much more realistic N2O distributions. During the past few months, the UKMO wind data base for a complete two-year period was processed into spectral form for model use. This new version of the input transport data base now includes complete temperature fields as well as the necessary wind data. This was done to facilitate advanced chemical calculations in the parallel model which often depend upon temperature. Additional UKMO data is being added as it becomes available.

This study tests whether mild hypoxia, that is typically encountered in civilian aircraft, causes temporary visual field defects in elderly persons or temporarily increases pre-existing defects in persons with glaucoma. The central 24-2 program on the Humphrey automated perimeter was used to test visual fields in three groups of subjects: six with glaucoma, 12 age matched controls all of whom were over 44 years of age, and six normal subjects under age 36. Visual fields were tested at ground level and at 10,000 feet in an alternating sequence. A repeated measures design of multiple analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Altitude was found to have no effect on the visual fields of subjects with glaucoma, age-matched normals, and younger subjects. We found no evidence to suggest a change in the present Federal Aviation Administration standards, which allow a special issuance certificate to persons with glaucoma who wish to obtain medical clearance to operate civilian aircraft. Nor have we found any evidence that should discourage glaucoma patients from flying as passengers.

This document provides comparative salary trend data for full-time faculty at 307 public institutions and 490 private colleges and universities based on two surveys, one for the baseline year 1993-94 and the other for the trend year 1996-97. For each of the 26 disciplines, a summary includes a definition of the discipline; information on average salaries by rank; faculty mix percentages; and comparisons between the two study years and the Consumer Price Index. Appended to the review of each discipline are lists of the 53 disciplines surveyed and the public and private institutions that participated in that segment of the study. Data and summary details are provided for the following disciplines/major fields: History, General; Home Economics; Library Science; Marketing Management and Research; Mathematics; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Music, General; Nursing (R.N. Training); Occupational Therapy; Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies; Philosophy and Religion; Physical Sciences; Physical Therapy; Physics, General; Political Science, General; Protective Services; Psychology; Public Health, General; Reading Teacher Education; Social Sciences, General; Social Work; Sociology; Special Education, General; Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; Teacher Education; and Visual and Performing Arts. (DB)

This document provides comparative salary trend data for full-time faculty in 26 academic disciplines/major fields for the baseline year 1994-95 and the trend year 1997-98 for 262 public and 387 private institutions. For each discipline/major field surveyed, the report provides a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) definition, data tables providing information on salary by rank and faculty mix, and comparisons between the two study years. Appended to each review are lists of selected disciplines and public and private participating institutions. The following fields are included: History, General; Home Economics; Library Science; Marketing Management and Research; Mathematics; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Music, General; Nursing (RN Training); Occupational Therapy; Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies; Philosophy and Religion; Physical Sciences; Physical Therapy; Physics, General; Political Science, General; Protective Services; Psychology; Public Health, General; Reading Teacher Education; Social Sciences, General; Social Work; Sociology; Special Education, General; Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; Teacher Education; and Visual and Performing Arts. (CH)

Receptive field profiles registered by cell recordings have shown that mammalian vision has developed receptive fields tuned to different sizes and orientations in the image domain as well as to different image velocities in space-time. This article presents a theoretical model by which families of idealized receptive field profiles can be derived mathematically from a small set of basic assumptions that correspond to structural properties of the environment. The article also presents a theory for how basic invariance properties to variations in scale, viewing direction and relative motion can be obtained from the output of such receptive fields, using complementary selection mechanisms that operate over the output of families of receptive fields tuned to different parameters. Thereby, the theory shows how basic invariance properties of a visual system can be obtained already at the level of receptive fields, and we can explain the different shapes of receptive field profiles found in biological vision from a requirement that the visual system should be invariant to the natural types of image transformations that occur in its environment.

Firing fields of grid cells in medial entorhinal cortex show compression or expansion after manipulations of the location of environmental barriers. This compression or expansion could be selective for individual grid cell modules with particular properties of spatial scaling. We present a model for differences in the response of modules to barrier location that arise from different mechanisms for the influence of visual features on the computation of location that drives grid cell firing patterns. These differences could arise from differences in the position of visual features within the visual field. When location was computed from the movement of visual features on the ground plane (optic flow) in the ventral visual field, this resulted in grid cell spatial firing that was not sensitive to barrier location in modules modeled with small spacing between grid cell firing fields. In contrast, when location was computed from static visual features on walls of barriers, i.e. in the more dorsal visual field, this resulted in grid cell spatial firing that compressed or expanded based on the barrier locations in modules modeled with large spacing between grid cell firing fields. This indicates that different grid cell modules might have differential properties for computing location based on visual cues, or the spatial radius of sensitivity to visual cues might differ between modules.

Four procedures were used to measure the extent of the detection fields of four primary meridians of the binocular visual fields of four subjects. Procedures I (Moving Target) used a horizontally moving target and a stationary fixation point. Procedure II (Fixed Target) used a stationary target and a horizontally moving fixation point. Procedure III (Saccadic Move) used a saccadic eye movement between two stationary horizontal fixation points and a stationary target. Procedure IV (Flashed Target) used a stationary fixation point and a .6 second flashed target. The results from the dynamic procedures (I and II) and the two static procedures (III and IV) were very similar for each subject. In the dynamic procedures, the relationship between a change in contrast and an equivalent change in velocity tends to support Bloch's Law (IxT=C) between 2 deg/s and 20 deg/s for a given retinal location. The relationship between the reciprocal of relative single glimpse probability of four subjects measured in this study and the mean detection times for comparable stimuli taken from Krendel and Wodinsky's study (1960) appear to be linear and highly correlated (.92 to .99). Volume I of this report details the technical report and volume II contains the appendices.

Atmospheric modeling is a grand challenge problem for several reasons, including its inordinate computational requirements and its generation of large amounts of data concurrent with its use of very large data sets derived from measurement instruments like satellites. In addition, atmospheric models are typically run several times, on new data sets or to reprocess existing data sets, to investigate or reinvestigate specific chemical or physical processes occurring in the earth's atmosphere, to understand model fidelity with respect to observational data, or simply to experiment with specific model parameters or components.

Atmospheric modeling is a grand challenge problem for several reasons, including its inordinate computational requirements and its generation of large amounts of data concurrent with its use of very large data sets derived from measurement instruments like satellites. In addition, atmospheric models are typically run several times, on new data sets or to reprocess existing data sets, to investigate or reinvestigate specific chemical or physical processes occurring in the earth's atmosphere, to understand model fidelity with respect to observational data, or simply to experiment with specific model parameters or components.

Atmospheric modeling is a grand challenge problem for several reasons, including its inordinate computational requirements and its generation of large amounts of data concurrent with its use of very large data sets derived from measurement instruments like satellites. In addition, atmospheric models are typically run several times, on new data sets or to reprocess existing data sets, to investigate or reinvestigate specific chemical or physical processes occurring in the earth's atmosphere, to understand model fidelity with respect to observational data, or simply to experiment with specific model parameters or components.

Atmospheric modeling is a grand challenge problem for several reasons, including its inordinate computational requirements and its generation of large amounts of data concurrent with its use of very large data sets derived from measurement instruments like satellites. In addition, atmospheric models are typically run several times, on new data sets or to reprocess existing data sets, to investigate or reinvestigate specific chemical or physical processes occurring in the earth's atmosphere, to understand model fidelity with respect to observational data, or simply to experiment with specific model parameters or components.

The two halves of the brain differ in their functional capabilities. This research project evaluates the ability of two sides of the brain to process information presented in the visual periphery. Visual stimuli requiring parallel and serial processing were viewed parafoveally. The subjects were required to respond using either a manual response button or a bite switch. The data show that the response mode effects which processing style is used which in turn determines which half of the brain is used to process the information. The data suggest that with the bite-switch response mode stimuli presented in the right visual field are processed more rapidly and accurately than in the left field. With a manual response, the opposite field effects were seen. The data are discussed as they relate to visual processing in complex work environments, such as aircraft cockpits. (Author)

This article presents preschool teachers' and assistant teachers' opinions on the importance of selected fields of educational work in kindergartens. The article first highlights the importance of activities expressing artistic creativity within modern curriculums. Then, it presents an empirical study that examines the preschool teachers' and assistant teachers' opinions on the importance of the educational fields, art genres, and visual arts fields. In research hypotheses, we presumed that preschool teachers find individual educational fields, individual art genres, and individual visual arts activities to be of different importance; consequently, education in kindergarten does not achieve the requisite holism. The study is based on the descriptive and causal-non-experimental method. We have determined that the greatest importance is attributed to movement and language, followed by nature, society, art and mathematics. Within art genres, the greatest importance is attributed to visual arts and music and the least to audio-visual activities. Within visual arts, drawing and painting are considered to be the most important and sculpting the least. These findings can support future studies and deliberation on the possible effects on practice in terms of requisitely holistically planned preschool education.

Visual acuity is analyzed in terms of the retinal ganglion cell response to different stimuluses on the receptor matrix. The antagonism between the central and peripheral responses of the ganglion cell receptive field is shown to effect both the sensitivity profile and the Ricco field (Area X Intensity) response. The difficulties with each method of analyzing the receptive field are discussed and an experimental protocol is formulated which derives information by comparisons between the different approaches. Data is presented to show that the ganglion cell receptive fields comparison many receptors even in the portion of the retina where the visual acuity is highest. The experimental data for a similarity between ganglion cell receptive fields in the central and peripheral portions of the retina in the cat is given and compared with similar data for the monkey. (Author)

Receptive fields in the retina indicate the first measurements taken over the (discrete) visual image. Why are they circular surround with an excitatory/inhibitory structure? We hypothesize that this provides a representation of the visual information in a form suitable for transmission over the optic nerve, a rather limited channel, that can then be extended into a variety of representations at the cortex. These cortical representations span a range of sizes and functionally separate positive and negative contrast data, precisely as is required for further processing. Our scheme is both physiologically and psychophysically plausible. In particular, we derive an explicit formula for constructing large receptive fields from small ones, and introduce the notion of de-blurring to derive interpolation filters for hyperacuity. A mathematical requirement of our scheme is a form of separation between positive and negative contrast data, a nonlinearity that we predict will agree with observations. Furthermore, the mathematics that we utilize are more naturally applicable to physiological models based on analysis by Gaussians than by (Fourier) spatial frequencies. Keywords: Visual Information Processing; Mathematical Models.

Functional specialization in the lower and upper visual fields in humans is analyzed in relation to the origins of the primate visual system. Processing differences between the vertical hemifields are related to the distinction between near (peripersonal) and far (extrapersonal) space, which are biased toward the lower and upper visual fields, respectively. Nonlinear/global processing is required in the lower visual field in order to perceive the optically degraded and diplopic images in near vision, whereas objects in far vision are searched for and recognized primarily using linear/local perceptual mechanisms.

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The Bayesian approach has become increasingly popular because it allows to model quite complex models via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. However, it is also recognized nowadays that MCMC sampling can become computationally prohibitive when a complex model needs to be fit to a large data set. To overcome this problem, we applied and extended a recently proposed two-stage approach to model a complex hierarchical data structure of glaucoma patients who participate in an ongoing Dutch study. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. In order to detect deterioration at an early stage, a model for predicting visual fields (VF) in time is needed. Hence, the true underlying VF progression can be determined, and treatment strategies can then be optimized to prevent further VF loss. Since we were unable to fit these data with the classical one-stage approach upon which the current popular Bayesian software is based, we made use of the two-stage Bayesian approach. The considered hierarchical longitudinal model involves estimating a large number of random effects and deals with censoring and high measurement variability. In addition, we extended the approach with tools for model evaluation

The Bayesian approach has become increasingly popular because it allows to model quite complex models via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. However, it is also recognized nowadays that MCMC sampling can become computationally prohibitive when a complex model needs to be fit to a large data set. To overcome this problem, we applied and extended a recently proposed two-stage approach to model a complex hierarchical data structure of glaucoma patients who participate in an ongoing Dutch study. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. In order to detect deterioration at an early stage, a model for predicting visual fields (VF) in time is needed. Hence, the true underlying VF progression can be determined, and treatment strategies can then be optimized to prevent further VF loss. Since we were unable to fit these data with the classical one-stage approach upon which the current popular Bayesian software is based, we made use of the two-stage Bayesian approach. The considered hierarchical longitudinal model involves estimating a large number of random effects and deals with censoring and high measurement variability. In addition, we extended the approach with tools for model evaluation

The Bayesian approach has become increasingly popular because it allows to model quite complex models via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. However, it is also recognized nowadays that MCMC sampling can become computationally prohibitive when a complex model needs to be fit to a large data set. To overcome this problem, we applied and extended a recently proposed two-stage approach to model a complex hierarchical data structure of glaucoma patients who participate in an ongoing Dutch study. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. In order to detect deterioration at an early stage, a model for predicting visual fields (VF) in time is needed. Hence, the true underlying VF progression can be determined, and treatment strategies can then be optimized to prevent further VF loss. Since we were unable to fit these data with the classical one-stage approach upon which the current popular Bayesian software is based, we made use of the two-stage Bayesian approach. The considered hierarchical longitudinal model involves estimating a large number of random effects and deals with censoring and high measurement variability. In addition, we extended the approach with tools for model evaluation

This volume provides comparative data for faculty salaries in public and private colleges, based on an annual survey of over 700 colleges and universities. Data cover the following disciplines: Physical Education; Physical Sciences; Physics; Political Science and Government; Psychology; Reading Education; Sociology; Special Education (General); Student Counseling and Personnel Services; and Visual and Performing Arts. Presented for each discipline is a summary of the overall average salary increase between the baseline year of 1986-87 and the year 1989-90, for both state and private institutions. Data from institutions participating in both years are compared with each other and with the consumer price index. Also included are average salaries by rank and the faculty mix percentage as well as comparisons with other disciplines. The participating institutions are listed. (JB)

This article is from Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research , volume 6 . Abstract Purpose: To evaluate visual field changes in patients with pituitary adenomas following trans-sphenoidal surgery. Methods: Eighteen patients with pituitary adenomas underwent a complete ophthalmic assessment and visual field analysis using the Humphrey Field Analyzer 30-2 program before and after trans-sphenoidal surgical resection at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences over a one year period. Visual acuity, duration of symptoms, optic nerve head changes, pattern of visual field defects, and variables such as mean deviation and visual field index were compared. Results: Thirty-six eyes of 18 patients including 10 male and 8 female subjects with mean age of 35.1±9.9 years and histologically proven pituitary adenoma were included. Mean visual acuity at presentation was 0.29 logMAR which improved to 0.21 logMAR postoperatively (P = 0.305). Of 36 eyes, 24 (66.7%) had visual field defects including temporal defects in 12 eyes (33.3%), non-specific defects in 10 eyes (27.8%), and peripheral field constriction in 2 eyes (5.6%). Mean deviation of visual fields at presentation was −14.28 dB which improved to −11.32 dB postoperatively. The visual field index improved from 63.5% to 75% postoperatively. Favorable visual field outcomes were correlated with shorter duration of symptoms and absence of optic nerve head changes at presentation. Conclusion: Visual field defects were present in two thirds of patients at presentation. An overall improvement in vision and visual fields was noted after surgical resection. An inverse correlation was found between the duration of symptoms and postoperative visual field recovery, signifying the importance of early surgical intervention.

Includes bibliographical references and index

This final report has four sections. We first describe the actual scientific results attained by our research team, followed by a description of the high performance computing research enhancing those results and prompted by the scientific tasks being undertaken. Next, we describe our research in data and program visualization motivated by the scientific research and also enabling it. Last, we comment on the indirect effects this research effort has had on our work, in terms of follow up or additional funding, student training, etc.

Objective: The aim of the study was to correlate the findings of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness calculated with optical coherence tomography(OCT) with visual field changes in glaucomatous, ocular hypertensive and normal eyes.

This volume provides comparative data for faculty salaries in public and private colleges, based on an annual survey of over 600 colleges and universities. Data cover the following disciplines: Physical Sciences, Physics, Political Science and Government, Protective Services, Psychology, Reading Education, Secretarial and Related Programs, Special Education, Speech Pathology/Audiology, Social Sciences, Sociology, Student Counseling and Personnel Services, and Visual and Performing Arts. Presented for each discipline is a summary of the overall average salary increase between the baseline year of 1988-89 and the trend year, 1991-92, for both state and private institutions. Data from institutions participating in both years are compared with each other and with the consumer price index. Also included are average salaries by rank and the faculty mix percentage as well as comparisons with other disciplines and between the public and private institutions. The participating institutions are listed. (JB)

This volume provides comparative data for faculty salaries in public and private colleges, based on an annual survey of over 600 colleges and universities. Data cover the following disciplines: Physical Sciences, Physics, Political Science and Government, Protective Services, Psychology, Reading Education, Secretarial and Related Programs, Special Education, Speech Pathology/Audiology, Social Sciences, Sociology, Student Counseling and Personnel Services, and Visual and Performing Arts. Presented for each discipline is a summary of the overall average salary increase between the baseline year of 1988-89 and the trend year, 1991-92, for both state and private institutions. Data from institutions participating in both years are compared with each other and with the consumer price index. Also included are average salaries by rank and the faculty mix percentage as well as comparisons with other disciplines and between the public and private institutions. The participating institutions are listed. (JB)

This is the third annual listing of graduate theses and dissertations in English as a Second Language (ESL). The studies cited here were completed during the academic year 1977-1978. The listing is intended to provide graduate students and others doing research in ESL and related fields with specific, comprehensive data on current graduate-level studies. Information was contributed by program directors, graduate advisers, and department chairmen from among the institutions in the United States and Canada that are known to have graduate programs in ESL. Each of the 90 entries provides the writer's name, thesis or dissertation title, degree earned, university, year degree was granted, name of thesis adviser, department or program, and writer's address. In addition, most entries include summaries of abstracts prepared by the writers. Entries are listed under the following headings: (1) Adult Education, (2) Bilingualism, (3) Contrastive Studies, (4) Culture, (5) Curriculum, (6) Grammar, (7) Literature, (8) Materials and Methods, (9) Phonology, (10) Profession, (11) Psycholinguistics, (12) Reading, (13) Research, (14) Second Dialect, (15) Second Language Learning, (16) Sociolinguistics, (17) Testing, (18) Visual Aids, and (19) Writing. (Author/AMH)

This article is from Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation , volume 4 . Abstract Background: The efficacy of treatment in hemianopic patients to restore missing vision is controversial. So far, successful techniques require laborious stimulus presentation or restrict improvements to selected visual field areas. Due to the large number of brain-damaged patients suffering from visual field defects, there is a need for an efficient automated treatment of the total visual field. Methods: A customized treatment was developed for the reaction perimeter, permitting a time-saving adaptive-stimulus presentation under conditions of maximum attention. Twenty hemianopic patients, without visual neglect, were treated twice weekly for an average of 8.2 months starting 24.2 months after the insult. Each treatment session averaged 45 min in duration. Results: In 17 out of 20 patients a significant and stable increase of the visual field size (average 11.3° ± 8.1) was observed as well as improvement of the detection rate in the defective visual field (average 18.6% ± 13.5). A two-factor cluster analysis demonstrated that binocular treatment was in general more effective in augmenting the visual detection rate than monocular. Four out of five patients with a visual field increase larger than 10° suffered from hemorrhage, whereas all seven patients with an increase of 5° or less suffered from infarction. Most patients reported that visual field restoration correlated with improvement of visual-related activities of daily living. Conclusion: Rehabilitation treatment with the Lubeck Reaction Perimeter is a new and efficient method to restore part of the visual field in hemianopia. Since successful transfer of treatment effects to the occluded eye is achieved under monocular treatment conditions, it is hypothesized that the damaged visual cortex itself is the structure in which recovery takes place.

The three-dimensional, spectral transport model used in the current project was first successfully integrated over climatological time scales by Dr. Guang Ping Lou for the simulation of atmospheric N2O using the United Kingdom Meteorological Office (UKMO) 4-dimensional, assimilated wind and temperature data set. A non-parallel, FORTRAN version of this integration using a fairly simple N2O chemistry package containing only photo-chemical reactions was used to verify our initial parallel model results. The integrations reproduced the gross features of the observed stratospheric climatological N2O distributions but also simulated the structure of the stratospheric Antarctic vortex and its evolution. Subsequently, Dr. Thomas Kindler, who produced much of the parallel version of our model, enlarged the N2O model chemistry package to include N2O reactions involving O(D-1) and also introduced assimilated wind data from NASA as well as UKMO. Initially, transport calculations without chemistry were run using Carbon-14 as a non-reactive tracer gas with the result that large differences in the transport properties of the two assimilated wind data sets were apparent from the resultant Carbon-14 distributions. Subsequent calculations for N2O, including its chemistry, with the two input winds data sets with verification from UARS satellite observations have refined the transport differences between the two such that the model's steering capabilities could be used to infer the correct climatological vertical velocity fields required to support the N2O observations. During this process, it was also discovered that both the NASA and the UKMO data contained spurious values in some of the higher frequency wave components, leading to incorrect local transport calculations and ultimately affecting the large scale properties of the model's N2O distributions, particularly at tropical latitudes. Subsequent model runs with wind data that had been filtered to remove some of the high frequency components produced much more realistic N2O distributions. During the past few months, the UKMO wind data base for a complete two-year period was processed into spectral form for model use. This new version of the input transport data base now includes complete temperature fields as well as the necessary wind data. This was done to facilitate advanced chemical calculations in the parallel model which often depend upon temperature. Additional UKMO data is being added as it becomes available.

Detailed maps of the patterns of steady state magnetic fields evoked by visual stimuli were constructed from measurements made over the occipital region of the head. The maps indicate the presence of at least two, and for some subjects three, current sources having different response properties, e.g., differing relationships between the response latency and spatial frequency of the display. (Author)

We present a catalog of visual like H-band morphologies of $\sim50.000$ galaxies ($H_{f160w}

1Old-Time Makers of Medicine

By James Joseph Walsh

Dr. Walsh's <i>Old-Time Makers of Medicine</i> chronicles the history and development of modern medicine from ancient times up to the discovery of America. Throughout this historical guide, Dr. Walsh shows numerous examples of practices thought to be entirely modern that were clearly anticipated hundreds or thousands of years ago. Ancient healers sought to use the body's natural healing ability, rather than rely exclusively on external cures. Physicians even in ancient times relied on what is now recognized as the placebo effect.<br /><br /> Dr. Walsh also addresses training and certification in medicine. Medieval universities anticipate our modern medical textbooks with consolidated records of all research and independent investigations, to provide uniform training for students. Likewise, the reader will find that the ancients reacted to unsuccessful treatment in similar degrees to what might now be called medical malpractice suits.<br /><br /> The book is organized chronologically, beginning with the fall of the Roman Empire and growth of the early Christian Church. From there, Dr. Walsh details the development of medical knowledge and practice in Arabia, to Medieval and Renaissance Europe. The reader will also discover how modern cultures based much of their medical knowledge on ancient Greek teachings. The chapters on Arabian Physicians and Medieval Universities also discuss knowledge exchanged between Arabic and European cultures. Dr. Walsh exposes several misconceptions and misinterpretations of history, especially restrictions of medical research stemming from religious prohibitions. (Summary by LivelyHive)

LibriVox volunteers bring you 24 recordings of The Despairing Lover by William Walsh. This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for March 11, 2012.<br><br>William Walsh was an English poet and critic. It is not as a poet, however, but as the friend and correspondent of Alexander Pope that Walsh is remembered.<br>"Mr Walsh used to tell me," Pope says, "that there was one way left of excelling; for though we had several great poets, we never had any one great poet that was correct, and he desired me to make that my study and my aim." (Summary from Wikipedia )

3Thirteenth: Greatest of Centuries

By James Joseph Walsh

It cannot but seem a paradox to say that the Thirteenth was the greatest of centuries. To most people the idea will appear at once so preposterous that they may not even care to consider it. A certain number, of course, will have their curiosity piqued by the thought that anyone should evolve so curious a notion. Either of these attitudes of mind will yield at once to a more properly receptive mood if it is recalled that the Thirteenth is the century of the Gothic cathedrals, of the foundation of the university, of the signing of Magna Charta, and of the origin of representative government with something like constitutional guarantees throughout the west of Europe. The cathedrals represent a development in the arts that has probably never been equaled either before or since. The university was a definite creation of these generations that has lived and maintained its usefulness practically in the same form in which it was then cast for the seven centuries ever since. The foundation stones of modern liberties are to be found in the documents which for the first time declared the rights of man during this precious period. (Summary from Preface)

4Bumper the White Rabbit

By George Ethelbert Walsh

All little boys and girls who love animals should become acquainted with Bumper the white rabbit. Bumper had many friends, such as Mr. Blind Rabbit, Fuzzy Wuzz and Goggle Eyes, his country cousins; and Bobby Gray Squirrel had his near cousins, Stripe the chipmunk and Webb the flying squirrel; while Buster and White Tail were favored with an endless number of friends and relatives. These books of Twilight Animal Stories are dedicated to all little boys and girls who love wild animals. So come out into the woods with me, and let us listen and watch, and I promise you it will be worth while. - Summary by Introduction of the book

In this second volume of the Twilight Animal series, we'll find out what happens to our friends Bumper, Fuzzy Wuzz, Goggle Eyes, and all the rest, after the events in the first book of the series, "Bumper the White Rabbit".

6Bumper the White Rabbit and His Friends

By George Ethelbert Walsh

In this fourth book of the Twilight Animal series, we find 16 stories of Bumper the white rabbit and the adventures he has with his friends in the forest.

In this sixth volume of the Twilight Animal series, we read about the adventures of Bobby the Gray Squirrel, who (together with his friends from the woods!) brings joy and happiness to a very special new friend. - Summary by Foon

In the seventh volume of the Twilight Animal series, we meet Buster the Bear, a cub who lives in a cave the woods with his mother. After an encounter with an unfriendly forest animal, he gets lost and captured, and has some marvelous adventures with humans. Will he make it back to the forest, or will he end up somewhere else? (Summary by Foon)

White Tail is the son of Father Buck, who is the leader of the herd. He and his rival Young Black Buck get into all kinds of adventures, but they have to be wary of Puma the Mountain Lion and Timber Wolf! Will White Tail be able to keep away from them and follow in his father's hoofsteps? - Summary by Foon

10Religion and Health

By James Joseph Walsh

In the introductory chapter and the one following we find the strong presentation of his thesis on the everlasting reality of religion. The chapter on Prayer, marked by absence of psychological speculation, treats practically of the naturalness and good sense of the constant habit of prayer, and of the value of prayer in all psychoneurosis....The chapter on the Bible and Health is of especial interest, with its argument that the sanitary laws of the Jews could have been no outcome of human development, but rather of Divine origin....The wide reading, extended experience, and specialized scholarship of the writer certify to the value of anything from his pen, and when we find a work of this kind as simple as a primer and as attractive as a story, we may well offer thanks for the boon. Nobody who values knowledge concerning the mysterious relation between holy living and bodily health should be without this book. - Summary by New Catholic World

11Story of Santa Klaus

By William S. Walsh

Who was Santa Klaus? Did he exist? In this study of custom and folklore, the author looks at the real and the legendary man, according to various traditions around the world. - Summary by LynneT

12Tea: Its History and Mystery

By Joseph M. Walsh

Utility, not originality, has been aimed at in the compilation of this work. The obstacles and difficulties its author had met with in his endeavors to learn something of the article he was commissioned to sell when he first entered the Tea trade, the almost total lack of knowledge displayed by the average dealer in the commodity, allied to the numerous inquiries for a work containing “all about tea,” first prompted the undertaking. The material was collated at intervals, in a fragmentary manner, covering a period of over twenty years, and arranged amid the many interruptions incident to an active business life, subjected to constant revisions, repeated prunings and innumerable corrections, due mainly to the varying statements and conflicting opinions of admitted authorities in every branch of the subject. Still, as careful and judicious an arrangement of the data has been given as possible, a faithful effort being made to omit nothing that may prove useful, instructive or profitable to the expert, the dealer or general reader. Aware that many facts have been omitted, and many errors committed in its preparation, he still trusts that the pains he has taken to avoid both have not been in vain, that the former may be few, and the latter of no great importance. The work was compiled under impulse, not under inducement, a single line not being intended originally for the market, and is now being published solely for the benefit of those “whom it may concern.” Philadelphia, December, 1892. - Summary by From the Preface

The present volume is published at the solicitation of many friends who have read the articles contained in it as they appeared at various times in magazines and who deemed that they were worth preservation in a more permanent form. The only possible claim for its filling a want lies in the fact that it presents these workers in medicine not only as scientists but also and especially as men, in relation to their environment, social, religious and educational. - Summary by Preface