Expert system driven software

Using large finite element analysis codes for heat transfer computations and for stresses and displacements under thermal loads computations is not always very simple because of the complexity of the problems and the number of domains involved. Often faulty results from computations are being used until an expert discovers that something was wrong in the simulation. As a result of recent advances in Artificial Intelligence techniques, solutions to these problems are now possible by making use of Knowledge Based Systems in which expertise in several domains can easily be introduced. In this paper, we present an application of knowledge based systems for a finite element analysis code in Heat Transfer. The system is fairly general, and we think that application to any well structured numerical code should be straightforward.     

Relation mère-enfant qualité des interactions fraternelles chez des enfants d'age préscolaire.

Assessed the degree to which the quality of the affective mother–child relationship is linked to the quality of interactions among siblings of preschool age. 44 intact families, with 2 children of which at least one was of preschool age, participated. Two evaluation methods were used: observation of relationships between siblings in semi-structured play situations at home, and a Q-sort questionnaire on the quality of the mother–child relationship. To a certain degree, there was a link between the quality of the relationship children had with their mothers and the quality of that they had with their siblings. Results indicate that the 2 kinds of intrafamilial relationships must be viewed differently for younger and older children and suggest that the relationship with the mother can contribute to the interior self- representation that could help children assert their position and play a role among siblings. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The complete sequence of a 6794 bp segment located on the right arm of chromosome II of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Finding of a putative dUTPase in a yeast

The DNA sequence of a 6794 bp fragment located at about 100 kb from the right telomere of chromosome II from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been determined. Sequence analysis reveals five open reading frames. One is the ARO4 gene encoding the 3-deoxy-D -arabinoheptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase. Another presents strong homology with the S5 ribosomal protein from bacteria. The open reading frame YBR1705 shows significant homology with dUTPase, suggesting for the first time the existence of such an enzyme in S. cerevisiae.     

Responses of plant-parasitic nematodeMeloidogyne incognita to carbon dioxide determined by video camera-computer tracking

A computer tracking system was used to quantify the responses of infective second-stage juveniles of the plant-parasitic nematodeMeloidogyne incognita to carbon dioxide. A sudden increase in concentration caused an increase in the rate of locomotion and a decrease in the frequency of changes of direction. The threshold was about 0.01 % vol CO₂/vol gas when the baseline concentration was very low and 0.05% CO₂ when the baseline concentration was 1% CO₂. The latter value represents a relative change of 5%. Concentrations above 10% CO₂ caused a general decrease in movement. In a second type of experiment, a constant concentration gradient of CO₂ was established, and the net movement of the nematodes along the gradient was determined. At low concentrations, the threshold was about 0.02% CO₂/cm. At higher concentrations, the threshold gradient was below 0.01% CO₂/cm or a relative gradient of less than 1% change/cm. At all concentrations to which nematodes responded they were attracted. The degree of orientation was estimated to be approximately 10% under most conditions. The rate of migration under the most favorable conditions was about 0.7 cm/hr. Three possible functions of the response are discussed: attraction to roots, movement toward optimal depth in soil, and as a collimating stimulus.     

Social support, life stress, and subsequent medical care utilization.

246 men and 191 women (aged 40–72 yrs) were monitored for medical care utilization in a health maintenance organization (HMO) over a 5-yr period. Rates of utilization were related to initially obtained indicators of life stress and social support and to interactions between life stress, social support, and age. Predictors of male and female HMO use are discussed. Multiple regression permitted a distinction between immediate and delayed effects of stresses on HMO visits. Implications regarding the buffering hypothesis for the mitigating effects of social support on the likelihood of health breakdown are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thermal instability with radiation by the method of energy

Energy-stability theory is applied to the case of radiation heat transfer in an optically thin, quiescent fluid layer heated from below and bounded by rigid, black, perfectly conducting planes. The radiation term in the energy equation destroys the quadratic character of the energy identity. It is shown, however, that the right-hand side of the energy identity can be bounded by a suitable quadratic term for all physically allowable disturbances. The result is a conditional stability limit dependent upon disturbance amplitude. Results are computed for a variety of cases; these are compared to existing linear and energy stability results.     

Sexual relationships, sexual behavior, and HIV infection: HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men seeking prevention services.

The authors evaluated sexual practices, sexually tempting situations, and risk avoidance coping strategies among HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men and who were seeking HIV prevention services. HIV-seropositive men who practiced unprotected anal intercourse in the previous 4 weeks reported stronger temptations to engage in high-risk sex than men who were sexually safe. Being in a positive mood and being with desirable partners were particularly tempting risk situations for seropositive men, who also possessed less coping capacity to deal with risky situations than safer men. Prevention interventions must address the needs of men infected with HIV and must remove barriers to enrolling in prevention programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intrapsychic conflict versus developmental deficit: A causal modeling approach to examining psychoanalytic theories of narcissism.

Over the past 15 years, disorders of the self have occupied the attention of the psychoanalytic community. In particular, Otto Kernberg and Heinz Kohut have written extensively about narcissism, but from distinctly different theoretical vantage points. Each theorist has attracted adherents, but the debate between the conflict and deficit models of narcissism has been largely polemical, serving to further polarize the psychoanalytic community. Using the techniques of causal modeling, the article introduces this powerful data analytic strategy to psychoanalytic researchers and tests a model of narcissism which permits a direct, empirical comparison of some of the ideas of Kernberg and Kohut. In a number of strategic comparisons involving the theoretical underpinnings of narcissism--the structural stability of the self, damaged self-esteem, and grandiosity--these data appear to be more consistent with the deficit model, although various aspects of the conflict model also find support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)