Ultra-High-Resolution Observations of MHD Waves in Photospheric Magnetic Structures

This chapter reviews the recent observations of waves and oscillations manifesting in fine-scale magnetic structures in the solar photosphere, which are often interpreted as the "building blocks' of the magnetic Sun. The authors found, through phase relationships between the various waveforms, that small-scale magnetic bright points (MBPs) in the photosphere demonstrated signatures of specific magnetoacoustic waves, in particular the sausage and kink modes. Modern magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the lower solar atmosphere clearly show how torsional motions can easily be induced in magnetic elements in the photosphere through the processes of vortical motions and/or buffeting by neighboring granules. The authors detected significant power associated with high-frequency horizontal motions, and suggested that these cases may be especially important in the creation of a turbulent environment that efficiently promotes Alfv��n wave dissipation.

Rocking behaviour of multi-block columns subjected to pulse-type ground motion accelerations

Ancient columns, made with a variety of materials such as marble, granite, stone or masonry are an important part of the<br/>European cultural heritage. In particular columns of ancient temples in Greece and Sicily which support only the architrave are<br/>characterized by small axial load values. This feature together with the slenderness typical of these structural members clearly<br/>highlights as the evaluation of the rocking behaviour is a key aspect of their safety assessment and maintenance. It has to be noted<br/>that the rocking response of rectangular cross-sectional columns modelled as monolithic rigid elements, has been widely investigated<br/>since the first theoretical study carried out by Housner (1963). However, the assumption of monolithic member, although being<br/>widely used and accepted for practical engineering applications, is not valid for more complex systems such as multi-block columns<br/>made of stacked stone blocks, with or without mortar beds. In these cases, in fact, a correct analysis of the system should consider<br/>rocking and sliding phenomena between the individual blocks of the structure. Due to the high non-linearity of the problem, the<br/>evaluation of the dynamic behaviour of multi-block columns has been mostly studied in the literature using a numerical approach<br/>such as the Discrete Element Method (DEM). This paper presents an introductory study about a proposed analytical-numerical<br/>approach for analysing the rocking behaviour of multi-block columns subjected to a sine-pulse type ground motion. Based on the<br/>approach proposed by Spanos (2001) for a system made of two rigid blocks, the Eulero-Lagrange method to obtain the motion<br/>equations of the system is discussed and numerical applications are performed with case studies reported in the literature and with a<br/>real acceleration record. The rocking response of single block and multi-block columns is compared and considerations are made<br/>about the overturning conditions and on the effect of forcing function���s frequency.<br/>.

Delineation of within-site terroir effects using soil and vine water measurement. Investigation of Cabernet Franc

. The influence of vine water status was studied in commercial vineyard blocks of Vilis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Franc in Niagara Peninsula, Ontario from 2005 to 2007. Vine performance, fruit composition and vine size of non-irrigated grapevines were compared within ten vineyard blocks containing different soil and vine water status. Results showed that within each vineyard block water status zones could be identified on GIS-generated maps using leaf water potential and soil moisture measurements. Some yield and fruit composition variables correlated with the intensity of vine water status. Chemical and descriptive sensory analysis was performed on nine (2005) and eight (2006) pairs of experimental wines to illustrate differences between wines made from high and low water status winegrapes at each vineyard block. Twelve trained judges evaluated six aroma and flavor (red fruit, black cherry, black current, black pepper, bell pepper, and green bean), thr~e mouthfeel (astringency, bitterness and acidity) sensory attributes as well as color intensity. Each pair of high and low water status wine was compared using t-test. In 2005, low water status (L WS) wines from Buis, Harbour Estate, Henry of Pelham (HOP), and Vieni had higher color intensity; those form Chateau des Charmes (CDC) had high black cherry flavor; those at RiefEstates were high in red fruit flavor and at those from George site was high in red fruit aroma. In 2006, low water status (L WS) wines from George, Cave Spring and Morrison sites were high in color intensity. L WS wines from CDC, George and Morrison were more intense in black cherry aroma; LWS wines from Hernder site were high in red fruit aroma and flavor. No significant differences were found from one year to the next between the wines produced from the same vineyard, indicating that the attributes of these wines were maintained almost constant despite markedly different conditions in 2005 and 2006 vintages. Partial ii Least Square (PLS) analysis showed that leaf \}' was associated with red fruit aroma and flavor, berry and wine color intensity, total phenols, Brix and anthocyanins while soil moisture was explained with acidity, green bean aroma and flavor as well as bell pepper aroma and flavor. In another study chemical and descriptive sensory analysis was conducted on nine (2005) and eight (2006) medium water status (MWS) experimental wines to illustrate differences that might support the sub-appellation system in Niagara. The judges evaluated the same aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel sensory attributes as well as color intensity. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminate analysis (DA). ANOV A of sensory data showed regional differences for all sensory attributes. In 2005, wines from CDC, HOP, and Hemder sites showed highest. r ed fruit aroma and flavor. Lakeshore and Niagara River sites (Harbour, Reif, George, and Buis) wines showed higher bell pepper and green bean aroma and flavor due to proximity to the large bodies of water and less heat unit accumulation. In 2006, all sensory attributes except black pepper aroma were different. PCA revealed that wines from HOP and CDC sites were higher in red fruit, black currant and black cherry aroma and flavor as well as black pepper flavor, while wines from Hemder, Morrison and George sites were high in green bean aroma and flavor. ANOV A of chemical data in 2005 indicated that hue, color intensity, and titratable acidity (TA) were different across the sites, while in 2006, hue, color intensity and ethanol were different across the sites. These data indicate that there is the likelihood of substantial chemical and sensory differences between clusters of sub-appellations within the Niagara Peninsula iii

Rethinking Fiscal Decentralization Policies in Developing Economies: A Case Study of Ghana

This thesis invites geographers to pay more attention to public policy research by addressing the need to rethink fiscal decentralization policies in Ghana. By applying ���Simandan���s wise stance in human geography��� and ���Grix���s building blocks of social research design���, I developed a conceptual framework that unites two incommensurable ontological and epistemological research positions in geography���the positive and normative positions. I used the framework to investigate two key research questions. First, does fiscal decentralization actually work in Ghana? Through quantitative analysis of empirical revenue and expenditure data (1994-2011) of local governments in Ghana, this study reveals significant issues of inefficiency, inequity, and unaccountability. Local governments generate less revenue, and therefore depend largely on central government transfers for developing their jurisdictions. Worse yet, these transfers are highly unpredictable in terms of amount and timing. Even though a multivariate regression analysis revealed that these transfers are apolitical, the actual disbursement formula tends to focus on equality instead of equity. Additionally, the unclear expenditure assignments in each locality make accountability difficult. In view of these problems, I addressed the question: why is fiscal decentralization held out as a good thing in Ghana? By drawing lessons from Foucault���s and Escobar���s critical discourse analysis, I traced a genealogy of Ghana���s fiscal decentralization. I found that the policy is held out as a good thing in Ghana because of the triangular operation of multiplicities of power, knowledge, and truth regimes at the local, national and international scale. I concluded that although nation-states remains a necessary causal link in fiscal decentralization policy process in Ghana, direct and indirect international involvement have profound effect on these policies. Therefore, rethinking fiscal decentralization involves acknowledging the complex intermingling effects that global, national, and local territories produce.

The Role of Specific Amino Acids in the Formation of Ternary Complexes in Nitrogenase Regulation in the Photosynthetic Bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus

L'azote est l'un des ��l��ments les plus essentiels dans le monde pour les ��tres vivants, car il est essentiel pour la production des ��l��ments de base de la cellule, les acides amin��s, les acides nucl��iques et les autres constituants cellulaires. L���atmosph��re est compos�� de 78% d'azote gazeux, une source d'azote inutilisable par la plupart des organismes �� l'exception de ceux qui poss��dent l���enzyme nitrog��nase, tels que les bact��ries diazotrophique. Ces micro-organismes sont capables de convertir l'azote atmosph��rique en ammoniac (NH3), qui est l'une des sources d'azote les plus pr��f��rables. Cette r��action exigeant l���ATP, appel��e fixation de l'azote, est catalys��e par une enzyme, nitrog��nase, qui est l'enzyme la plus importante dans le cycle de l'azote. Certaines prot��ines sont des r��gulateurs potentiels de la synth��se de la nitrog��nase et de son activit��; AmtB, DraT, DraG, les prot��ines PII, etc.. Dans cette th��se, j'ai effectu�� diverses exp��riences afin de mieux comprendre leurs r��les d��tail��s dans Rhodobacter capsulatus. La prot��ine membranaire AmtB, tr��s r��pandue chez les archaea, les bact��ries et les eucaryotes, est un membre de la famille MEP / Amt / Rh. Les prot��ines AmtB sont des transporteurs d'ammonium, importateurs d'ammonium externe, et ont ��galement ��t�� sugg��r�� d���agir comme des senseurs d'ammonium. Il a ��t�� montr�� que l���AmtB de Rhodobacter capsulatus fonctionne comme un capteur pour d��tecter la pr��sence d'ammonium externe pour r��guler la nitrog��nase. La nitrog��nase est constitu��e de deux m��talloprot��ines nomm��es MoFe-prot��ine et Fe-prot��ine. L'addition d'ammoniaque �� une culture R. capsulatus conduit �� une s��rie de r��actions qui m��nent �� la d��sactivation de la nitrog��nase, appel�� "nitrog��nase switch-off". Une r��action critique dans ce processus est l���ajout d���un groupe ADP-ribose �� la Fe-prot��ine par DraT. L'entr��e de l'ammoniac dans la cellule �� travers le pore AmtB est contr��l��e par la s��questration de GlnK. GlnK est une prot��ine PII et les prot��ines PII sont des prot��ines centrales dans la r��gulation du m��tabolisme de l'azote. Non seulement la s��questration de GlnK par AmtB est importante dans la r��gulation nitrog��nase, mais la liaison de l'ammonium par AmtB ou de son transport partiel est ��galement n��cessaire. Les complexes AmtB-GlnK sont suppos��s de lier DraG, l���enzyme responsable pour enlever l'ADP-ribose ajout�� �� la nitrog��nase par DraT, ainsi formant un complexe ternaire. Dans cette th��se certains d��tails du m��canisme de transduction du signal et de transport d'ammonium ont ��t�� examin��s par la g��n��ration et la caract��risation d���un mutant dirig��, RCZC, (D335A). La capacit�� de ce mutant, ainsi que des mutants construits pr��c��demment, RCIA1 (D338A), RCIA2 (G344C), RCIA3 (H193E) et RCIA4 (W237A), d���effectuer le �� switch-off �� de la nitrog��nase a ��t�� mesur��e par chromatographie en phase gazeuse. Les r��sultats ont r��v��l�� que tous les r��sidus d'acides amin��s ci-dessus ont un r��le essentiel dans la r��gulation de la nitrog��nase. L���immunobuvardage a ��galement ��t�� effectu��s afin de v��rifier la pr��sence de la Fe-prot��ine l'ADP-ribosyl��e. D335, D388 et W237 semblent ��tre cruciales pour l���ADP-ribosylation, puisque les mutants RCZC, RCIA1 et RCIA4 n'a pas montr�� de l���ADP-ribosylation de la Fe-prot��ine. En outre, m��me si une l��g��re ADP-ribosylation a ��t�� observ��e pour RCIA2 (G344C), nous le consid��rons comme un r��sidu d'acide amin�� important dans la r��gulation de la nitrog��nase. D���un autre cot��, le mutant RCIA3 (H193E) a montr�� une ADP-ribosylation de la Fe-prot��ine apr��s un choc d'ammonium, par cons��quent, il ne semble pas jouer un r��le important dans l���ADP-ribosylation. Par ailleurs R. capsulatus poss��de une deuxi��me Amt appel�� AmtY, qui, contrairement �� AmtB, ne semble pas avoir des r��les sp��cifiques. Afin de d��couvrir ses fonctionnalit��s, AmtY a ��t�� surexprim��e dans une souche d���E. coli manquant l���AmtB (GT1001 pRSG1) (r��alis��e pr��c��demment par d'autres membres du laboratoire) et la formation des complexes AmtY-GlnK en r��ponse �� l'addition d���ammoniac a ��t�� examin��e. Il a ��t�� montr�� que m��me si AmtY est en mesure de transporter l'ammoniac lorsqu'il est exprim�� dans E. coli, elle ne peut pass��� associer �� GlnK en r��ponse �� NH4 +.

Characterization of Selected Photonic Materials and Systems Using Photoacoustic Technique

The photoacoustic investigations carried out on different photonic materials are presented in this thesis. Photonic materials selected for the investigation are tape cast ceramics, muItilayer dielectric coatings, organic dye doped PVA films and PMMA matrix doped with dye mixtures. The studies are performed by the measurement of photoacoustic signal generated as a result of modulated cw laser irradiation of samples. The gas-microphone scheme is employed for the detection of photoacoustic signal. The different measurements reported here reveal the adaptability and utility of the PA technique for the characterization of photonic materials.Ceramics find applications in the field of microelectronics industry. Tape cast ceramics are the building blocks of many electronic components and certain ceramic tapes are used as thermal barriers. The thermal parameters of these tapes will not be the same as that of thin films of the same materials. Parameters are influenced by the presence of foreign bodies in the matrix and the sample preparation technique. Measurements are done on ceramic tapes of Zirconia, Zirconia-Alumina combination, barium titanate, barium tin titanate, silicon carbide, lead zirconate titanateil'Z'T) and lead magnesium niobate titanate(PMNPT). Various configurations viz. heat reflection geometry and heat transmission geometry of the photoacoustic technique have been used for the evaluation of different thermal parameters of the sample. Heat reflection geometry of the PA cell has been used for the evaluation of thermal effusivity and heat transmission geometry has been made use of in the evaluation of thermal diffusivity. From the thermal diffusivity and thermal effusivity values, thermal conductivity is also calculated. The calculated values are nearly the same as the values reported for pure materials. This shows the feasibility of photoacoustic technique for the thermal characterization of ceramic tapes.Organic dyes find applications as holographic recording medium and as active media for laser operations. Knowledge of the photochemical stability of the material is essential if it has to be used tor any of these applications. Mixing one dye with another can change the properties of the resulting system. Through careful mixing of the dyes in appropriate proportions and incorporating them in polymer matrices, media of required stability can be prepared. Investigations are carried out on Rhodamine 6GRhodamine B mixture doped PMMA samples. Addition of RhB in small amounts is found to stabilize Rh6G against photodegradation and addition of Rh6G into RhB increases the photosensitivity of the latter. The PA technique has been successfully employed for the monitoring of dye mixture doped PMMA sample. The same technique has been used for the monitoring of photodegradation ofa laser dye, cresyl violet doped polyvinyl alcohol also.Another important application of photoacoustic technique is in nondestructive evaluation of layered samples. Depth profiling capability of PA technique has been used for the non-destructive testing of multilayer dielectric films, which are highly reflecting in the wavelength range selected for investigations. Eventhough calculation of thickness of the film is not possible, number of layers present in the system can be found out using PA technique. The phase plot has clear step like discontinuities, the number of which coincides with the number of layers present in the multilayer stack. This shows the sensitivity of PA signal phase to boundaries in a layered structure. This aspect of PA signal can be utilized in non-destructive depth profiling of reflecting samples and for the identification of defects in layered structures.

Stability of periodic orbits of coupled-map lattices

We consider the stability properties of spatial and temporal periodic orbits of one-dimensional coupled-map lattices. The stability matrices for them are of the block-circulant form. This helps us to reduce the problem of stability of spatially periodic orbits to the smaller orbits corresponding to the building blocks of spatial periodicity, enabling us to obtain the conditions for stability in terms of those for smaller orbits.

An Approach Towards The Development Of An Efficient Symmetric Key Encryption Scheme

n the recent years protection of information in digital form is becoming more important. Image and video encryption has applications in various fields including Internet communications, multimedia systems, medical imaging, Tele-medicine and military communications. During storage as well as in transmission, the multimedia information is being exposed to unauthorized entities unless otherwise adequate security measures are built around the information system. There are many kinds of security threats during the transmission of vital classified information through insecure communication channels. Various encryption schemes are available today to deal with information security issues. Data encryption is widely used to protect sensitive data against the security threat in the form of ���attack on confidentiality���. Secure transmission of information through insecure communication channels also requires encryption at the sending side and decryption at the receiving side. Encryption of large text message and image takes time before they can be transmitted, causing considerable delay in successive transmission of information in real-time. In order to minimize the latency, efficient encryption algorithms are needed. An encryption procedure with adequate security and high throughput is sought in multimedia encryption applications. Traditional symmetric key block ciphers like Data Encryption Standard (DES), Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Escrowed Encryption Standard (EES) are not efficient when the data size is large. With the availability of fast computing tools and communication networks at relatively lower costs today, these encryption standards appear to be not as fast as one would like. High throughput encryption and decryption are becoming increasingly important in the area of high-speed networking. Fast encryption algorithms are needed in these days for high-speed secure communication of multimedia data. It has been shown that public key algorithms are not a substitute for symmetric-key algorithms. Public key algorithms are slow, whereas symmetric key algorithms generally run much faster. Also, public key systems are vulnerable to chosen plaintext attack. In this research work, a fast symmetric key encryption scheme, entitled ���Matrix Array Symmetric Key (MASK) encryption��� based on matrix and array manipulations has been conceived and developed. Fast conversion has been achieved with the use of matrix table look-up substitution, array based transposition and circular shift operations that are performed in the algorithm. MASK encryption is a new concept in symmetric key cryptography. It employs matrix and array manipulation technique using secret information and data values. It is a block cipher operated on plain text message (or image) blocks of 128 bits using a secret key of size 128 bits producing cipher text message (or cipher image) blocks of the same size. This cipher has two advantages over traditional ciphers. First, the encryption and decryption procedures are much simpler, and consequently, much faster. Second, the key avalanche effect produced in the ciphertext output is better than that of AES.

GA-based Optimization of a Fourth-order Sigma-delta Modulator for WLAN

Over-sampling sigma-delta analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs) are one of the key building blocks of state of the art wireless transceivers. In the sigma-delta modulator design the scaling coefficients determine the overall signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, selecting the optimum value of the coefficient is very important. To this end, this paper addresses the design of a fourthorder multi-bit sigma-delta modulator for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) receiver with feed-forward path and the optimum coefficients are selected using genetic algorithm (GA)- based search method. In particular, the proposed converter makes use of low-distortion swing suppression SDM architecture which is highly suitable for low oversampling ratios to attain high linearity over a wide bandwidth. The focus of this paper is the identification of the best coefficients suitable for the proposed topology as well as the optimization of a set of system parameters in order to achieve the desired signal-to-noise ratio. GA-based search engine is a stochastic search method which can find the optimum solution within the given constraints.

Tubular Organization of SnO��� Nanocrystallites for Improved Lithium Ion Battery Anode Performance

Porous tin oxide nanotubes were obtained by vacuum infiltration of tin oxide nanoparticles into porous aluminum oxide membranes, followed by calcination. The porous tin oxide nanotube arrays so prepared were characterized by FE-SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and XRD. The nanotubes are open-ended, highly ordered with uniform cross-sections, diameters and wall thickness. The tin oxide nanotubes were evaluated as a substitute anode material for the lithium ion batteries. The tin oxide nanotube anode could be charged and discharged repeatedly, retaining a specific capacity of 525 mAh/g after 80 cycles. This capacity is significantly higher than the theoretical capacity of commercial graphite anode (372 mAh/g) and the cyclability is outstanding for a tin based electrode. The cyclability and capacities of the tin oxide nanotubes were also higher than their building blocks of solid tin oxide nanoparticles. A few factors accounting for the good cycling performance and high capacity of tin oxide nanotubes are suggested.

Forest Policy Scenario Analysis: Sensitivity of Songbird Community to Changes in Forest Cover Amount and Configuration

Changes in mature forest cover amount, composition, and configuration can be of significant consequence to wildlife populations. The response of wildlife to forest patterns is of concern to forest managers because it lies at the heart of such competing approaches to forest planning as aggregated vs. dispersed harvest block layouts. In this study, we developed a species assessment framework to evaluate the outcomes of forest management scenarios on biodiversity conservation objectives. Scenarios were assessed in the context of a broad range of forest structures and patterns that would be expected to occur under natural disturbance and succession processes. Spatial habitat models were used to predict the effects of varying degrees of mature forest cover amount, composition, and configuration on habitat occupancy for a set of 13 focal songbird species. We used a spatially explicit harvest scheduling program to model forest management options and simulate future forest conditions resulting from alternative forest management scenarios, and used a process-based fire-simulation model to simulate future forest conditions resulting from natural wildfire disturbance. Spatial pattern signatures were derived for both habitat occupancy and forest conditions, and these were placed in the context of the simulated range of natural variation. Strategic policy analyses were set in the context of current Ontario forest management policies. This included use of sequential time-restricted harvest blocks (created for Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) conservation) and delayed harvest areas (created for American marten (Martes americana atrata) conservation). This approach increased the realism of the analysis, but reduced the generality of interpretations. We found that forest management options that create linear strips of old forest deviate the most from simulated natural patterns, and had the greatest negative effects on habitat occupancy, whereas policy options that specify deferment and timing of harvest for large blocks helped ensure the stable presence of an intact mature forest matrix over time. The management scenario that focused on maintaining compositional targets best supported biodiversity objectives by providing the composition patterns required by the 13 focal species, but this scenario may be improved by adding some broad-scale spatial objectives to better maintain large blocks of interior forest habitat through time.

Aqueous geochemistry and oxygen isotope compositions of acid mine drainage from the R��o Tinto, SW Spain, highlight inconsistencies in current models

The Rio Tinto river in SW Spain is a classic example of acid mine drainage and the focus of an increasing amount of research including environmental geochemistry, extremophile microbiology and Mars-analogue studies. Its 5000-year mining legacy has resulted in a wide range of point inputs including spoil heaps and tunnels draining underground workings. The variety of inputs and importance of the river as a research site make it an ideal location for investigating sulphide oxidation mechanisms at the field scale. Mass balance calculations showed that pyrite oxidation accounts for over 93% of the dissolved sulphate derived from sulphide oxidation in the Rio Tinto point inputs. Oxygen isotopes in water and sulphate were analysed from a variety of drainage sources and displayed delta O-18((SO4-H2O)) values from 3.9 to 13.6 parts per thousand, indicating that different oxidation pathways occurred at different sites within the catchment. The most commonly used approach to interpreting field oxygen isotope data applies water and oxygen fractionation factors derived from laboratory experiments. We demonstrate that this approach cannot explain high delta O-18((SO4-H2O)) values in a manner that is consistent with recent models of pyrite and sulphoxyanion oxidation. In the Rio Tinto, high delta O-18((SO4-H2O)) values (11.2-13.6 parts per thousand) occur in concentrated (Fe = 172-829 mM), low pH (0.88-1.4), ferrous iron (68-91% of total Fe) waters and are most simply explained by a mechanism involving a dissolved sulphite intermediate, sulphite-water oxygen equilibrium exchange and finally sulphite oxidation to sulphate with O-2. In contrast, drainage from large waste blocks of acid volcanic tuff with pyritiferous veins also had low pH (1.7). but had a low delta O-18((SO4-H2O)) value of 4.0 parts per thousand and high concentrations of ferric iron (Fe(III) = 185 mM, total Fe = 186 mM), suggesting a pathway where ferric iron is the primary oxidant, water is the primary source of oxygen in the sulphate and where sulphate is released directly from the pyrite surface. However, problems remain with the sulphite-water oxygen exchange model and recommendations are therefore made for future experiments to refine our understanding of oxygen isotopes in pyrite oxidation. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Human amygdala responses during presentation of happy and neutral faces: correlations with state anxiety

BACKGROUND: Previous functional imaging studies demonstrating amygdala response to happy facial expressions have all included the presentation of negatively valenced primary comparison expressions within the experimental context. This study assessed amygdala response to happy and neutral facial expressions in an experimental paradigm devoid of primary negatively valenced comparison expressions. METHODS: Sixteen human subjects (eight female) viewed 16-sec blocks of alternating happy and neutral faces interleaved with a baseline fixation condition during two functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. RESULTS: Within the ventral amygdala, a negative correlation between happy versus neutral signal changes and state anxiety was observed. The majority of the variability associated with this effect was explained by a positive relationship between state anxiety and signal change to neutral faces. CONCLUSIONS: Interpretation of amygdala responses to facial expressions of emotion will be influenced by considering the contribution of each constituent condition within a greater subtractive finding, as well as 1) their spatial location within the amygdaloid complex; and 2) the experimental context in which they were observed. Here, an observed relationship between state anxiety and ventral amygdala response to happy versus neutral faces was explained by response to neutral faces.

The neural basis of maternal responsiveness to infants: an fMRI study

Using fMRI, we examined the neural correlates of maternal responsiveness. Ten healthy mothers viewed alternating blocks of video: (i) 40 s of their own infant; (ii) 20 s of a neutral video; (iii) 40 s of an unknown infant and (iv) 20 s of neutral video, repeated 4 times. Predominant BOLD signal change to the contrast of infants minus neutral stimulus occurred in bilateral visual processing regions BA minus neutral stimulus occurred in bilateral visual processing regions (BA 38), left amygdala and visual cortex (BA 19), and to the unknown infant minus own infant contrast in bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (BA 10,47) and medial prefrontal cortex (BA 8). These findings suggest that amygdala and temporal pole may be key sites in mediating a mother's response to her infant and reaffirms their importance in face emotion processing and social behaviour.

Verification and FPGA circuits of a block-2 fast path-based predictor

This paper formally derives a new path-based neural branch prediction algorithm (FPP) into blocks of size two for a lower hardware solution while maintaining similar input-output characteristic to the algorithm. The blocked solution, here referred to as B2P algorithm, is obtained using graph theory and retiming methods. Verification approaches were exercised to show that prediction performances obtained from the FPP and B2P algorithms differ within one mis-prediction per thousand instructions using a known framework for branch prediction evaluation. For a chosen FPGA device, circuits generated from the B2P algorithm showed average area savings of over 25% against circuits for the FPP algorithm with similar time performances thus making the proposed blocked predictor superior from a practical viewpoint.