Theoretical Correlations and Measured Correlations: Relating Recognition and Recall in Four Distributed Memory Models.

This article addresses the relation between item recognition and associative (cued) recall. Going beyond measures of performance on each task, the analysis focuses on the degree to which the contingency between successful recognition and successful recall of a studied item reflects the commonality of memory processes underlying the recognition and recall tasks. Specifically, 4 classes of distributed memory models are assessed for their ability to account for the relatively invariant correlation (≈ .5) between successive recognition and recall. Basic versions of each model either under- or overpredict the intertask correlation. Introducing variability in goodness-of-encoding and response criteria, as well as output encoding, enabled all 4 models to reproduce the moderate intertask correlation and the increase in correlation observed in 2 mixed-list experiments. This model-based analysis provides a general theoretical framework for interpreting contingencies between successive memory tests. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linking care felt to engagement in innovative behaviors in the workplace: The mediating role of psychological conditions.

This study examines the relationships between care felt and engagement in innovative behaviors at work. We posit that when an individual perceives that coworkers care for him or her (i.e., care felt), this cultivates psychological conditions such as safety, meaningfulness, and availability, which result in a higher level of motivation and by implication engagement in innovative behaviors at work. A sample of 218 employees took part in the assessment of the relationship between the psychological conditions linked to care felt (measured at Time 1) and motivation and engagement in innovative behaviors (measured at Time 2). The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) indicate that care felt is positively linked to psychological conditions. The latter is positively related directly and indirectly (through motivation) to engagement in innovative behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

CMOS harmonic upconverter with power management of $$2{\bf nd}$$ harmonic for wideband short-range communications

The design and simulation of a 2nd harmonic based upconverter is introduced. With the proposed upconverter, it is possible to reach a good noise figure with power and area reduction. The design of the circuit was made with the UMC \(0.18\,\upmu \hbox {m}\) Mixed Mode/RF CMOS technology. However, the design methodology can be extended to a different CMOS process. According to the performance exhibited by the purposed mixer, it may be useful in wideband short-range communication technologies, such as certified wireless USB.     

The effect of the ionosphere on remote sensing of sea surface salinity from space: absorption and emission at L band

The purpose of this work is to examine the effects of Faraday rotation and attenuation/emission in the ionosphere in the context of a future remote sensing system in space to measure salinity. Sea surface salinity is important for understanding ocean circulation and for modeling energy exchange with the atmosphere. A passive microwave sensor in space operating near 1.4 GHz (L-band) could provide global coverage and complement in situ arrays being planned to provide subsurface profiles. However, the salinity signal is relatively small and changes along the propagation path can be important sources of error. It is shown that errors due to the ionosphere can be as large as several psu. The dominant source of error is Faraday rotation but emission can be important     

Generation and evaluation of current and logic tests for switch-level sequential circuits

This article presents an approach to developing high quality tests for switch-level circuits using both current and logic test generation algorithms. Faults that are aborted or undetectable by logic tests may be detected by current tests, or vice versa. An efficient switch level test generation algorithm for generating current and logic tests is introduced. Clear definitions for analyzing the effectiveness of the joint test generation approach are derived. Experimental results are presented for demonstrating high coverage of stuck-at, stuck-on, and stuck-open faults for switch level circuits when both current and logic tests are used.This is expanded version of the work originally presented at the 1991 International Test Conference.     

Design of A Low-Cost Wireless Indoor Air Quality Sensor Network System

An indoor air quality monitoring system helps in the detection and improvement of indoor air quality. The monitoring systems presently available are very expensive. In this paper, we present a low-cost indoor air quality monitoring wireless sensor network system developed using Arduino, XBee modules, and micro gas sensors. The system is capable of collecting six air quality parameters from different locations simultaneously. We have also developed a linear least square estimation-based method for sensor calibration and measurement data conversion. In this paper, we present the detailed design of wireless air quality sensor node and the calibration method. The performance and usefulness of the system are demonstrated by comparing measurement results of our system with a professional-grade air quality measurement device.     

Microfluidics structures for probing the dynamic behaviour of filamentous fungi

Although filamentous fungi live in physically and chemically complex natural environments that require optimal survival strategies, both at colony and individual cell level, their growth dynamics are usually studied on homogenous media. This study proposes a new research methodology based on the purposeful design, fabrication and operation of microfluidics structures to examine the temporal and spatial responses of filamentous fungi. Two model fungal strains, the wild type of Neurospora crassa – a commonly used model organisms – and the ro-1 mutant strain of this species impaired in hyphal growth and morphology, have been chosen to demonstrate the potential of this new methodology. Time-lapse observations of both species show that filamentous fungi respond rapidly to the physically microstructured environment without any detectable temporal or spatial adjustment period. Despite their genetic differences, and consequently different growth behaviour, both strains present efficient space-search strategies enabling them to solve the microsized networks successfully and in similar periods, thus demonstrating that the space-searching algorithms are robust and mutation-independent. Additionally, the use of the proposed methodology could put in evidence new biological mechanisms responsible for the apical extension of filamentous fungi, beyond the classical theory based on the central role of Spitzenkörper.     

Calibration Enabled Scalable Current Sensor Module for Quiescent Current Testing

Semiconductor testing is aimed at screening fabrication defects that impact expected functionality. While catastrophic defects result in non working devices, parametric faults result in marginalities and are of increasing concern with deep sub-micron process technologies. This work presents a scheme to monitor Circuit-Under-Test (CUT) static bias current to identify catastrophic as well as parametric faults. All circuits require a deterministic amount of DC bias current which may vary outside the specifications when faults exist within the circuit. We propose a compensated current measurement Built-in-Current-Sensor (BICS) scheme, which can be used for sub-system level/circuit-level bias current measurements. The BICS provides accessibility to internal blocks and enables isolated parametric testing. Calibration routine enables process independence and provides robustness. The BICS is compatible with Very-Low-Cost Automatic Test Equipment (VLC-ATE), and can be used for detailed parametric testing in the production environment.     

An 8-Bit Digitally Controlled Programmable Phase Shifter Circuit for Sinusoidal Signals with 252∘ Phase Control Range

In this paper, the synthesis, design, and implementation of a programmable phase shifter circuit for sinusoidal signals is presented. The proposed circuit, built-up herein with operational amplifiers (OPAMPs), high precision resistors and low voltage switches, consists of a digitally controlled amplitude attenuator in combination with a single-tone orthogonalizer. Experimental results agree with theoretical background: the attained phase range was 252^° in 256 steps with a median step of 0.9^°. The inaccuracy of the circuit was determined to be of 0.03 %. Contrary to other OPAMP approaches for sinusoidal signals reported in the literature and based on a first-order all-pass filter structure, the approximation suggested in this work is based on a different concept. The achieved results demonstrate the functionality of the system for the case of a sinusoidal signal with frequency of 1 kHz. Notwithstanding, the proposed architecture can be extended to operate at higher frequencies by using different building blocks with larger bandwidth. Furthermore, it can be extended as well to work out with other periodic input waveforms, like triangular shapes or square waves, with the use of an appropriate orthogonalizer.     

An Adaptive Learning Scheme for Medium Access with Channel Reservation in Wireless Networks

Providing effective medium access for wireless networks is a challenging task. Most of the existing protocols of IEEE 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) work towards the goal of achieving effective channel access by developing various backoff procedures. In this paper, we make an attempt to develop a new medium access protocol named Learning Automata (LA) based Wireless Channel Reservation (LAWCR). We use an LA approach to implement reservation for channel access for single hop wireless networks. Also, sequence procedure is used to improve the reservation mechanism. The performance of the proposed LAWCR scheme show significant improvements over the legacy DCF protocol with respect to important criteria such as the average time spent in the buffer and the throughput.