Introduction to the Special Section on Health and Cognitive Function.

Numerous factors related to health and diseases have been studied in relation to cognitive function. It has been shown that across the life span, systemic medical diseases can negatively impact cognitive function. Factors that influence the development of medical diseases, such as poor health habits, biological risk factors, hormones, genetic factors, exposure to environmental toxins, and certain treatments for disease, can also have an adverse effect on cognitive function. Conversely, factors such as high levels of education, good health habits, and some treatments for disease can be protective. Included in this special section are 6 empirical articles that examine the relation of health or disease to cognitive function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuromorphic Synapses for Artificial Dendrites

We describe neuromorphic, variable-weight synapses onartificial dendrites that facilitate experimentation with correlativeadaptation rules. Attention is focused on those aspects of biologicalsynaptic function that could affect a neuromorphic network'scomputational power and adaptive capability. These include sublinearsummation, quantal synaptic noise, and independent adaptationof adjacent synapses. The diffusive nature of artificial dendritesadds considerable flexibility to the design of fast synapsesby allowing conductances to be enabled for short or for variablelengths of time. We present two complementary synapse designs:the shared conductance array and the self-timed synapse. Bothsynapse circuits behave as conductances to mimic biological synapsesand thus enable sublinear summation. The former achieves weightvariation by selecting different conductances from an on-chiparray, and the latter by modulating the length of time a constantconductance remains activated. Both work with our interchip communicationsystem, virtual wires. For the present purpose of comparing variousadaptation mechanisms in software, synaptic weights are storedoff chip. This simplifies the addition of quantal weight noiseand allows connections from different sources to the same dendriticcompartment to have independent weights.     

Physico-chemical characterisation of a non-conventional food protein source from earthworms and sensory impact in arepas

This study aimed to characterise a non-conventional protein source: a powder made from earthworms, and to evaluate its potential use as human food. The way it was prepared led to low solubility and wide particle size distribution. Sensory analysis was used to assess the acceptability and the organoleptic properties of maize-based pan-cakes fortified with this novel protein powder. Satisfying products were obtained with a substitution level of 5.5% (w/w) earthworm powder in pan-cakes. GC-MS allowed the identification of more than seventy volatile compounds that may be responsible for the off-odour of the powder. The most abundant chemical groups found in the volatile fraction were ketones with undecan-2-one, alcohols with pentan-1-ol, and aldehydes with hexanal. Partial delipidation was tested as a way to improve the organoleptic quality of the powder. It clearly led to less intensely coloured samples but delipidation must be optimised to have an impact on odour.     

Productivity through computer management of a fully automated transportation system

The Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit System is a fully automated, collection and distribution, origin to destination, non-stop transportation system. The system consists of a feet of 73 electrically powered, rubber tired, passenger carrying vehicles, operating on a dedicated guideway network at 15 second headways. The system provides a safe, comfortable non-polluting, reliable means of public transportation between the Central Business District of Morgantown, West Virginia, and the three separated campuses of West Virginia University.

This paper will address the unique application of computers in operating a public transit system which is considered the first of its kind anywhere in the world.     

Structure and polymerization conditions of poly(methyl vinyl ketone)

The products of polymerization of methylvinyl ketone with benzoyl peroxide, sodium and sodium tertiary butoxide were compared using u.v, i.r, n.m.r. and viscosities. With sodium and sodium t-butoxide, poly(methyl vinyl ketone) is partly cyclized forming polyunsaturated ketone. The degree of cyclization of the polymer obtained with sodium t-butoxide is higher than that with sodium, and the viscosity of the solution in acetone was also higher. The mechanism of cyclization is discussed in each case.     

Superconducting helically wound magnet for the free-electron laser

Theoretical and experimental studies conducted by the Stanford Free Electron Laser group have resulted in the first operation of a free-electron laser amplifier and free-electron laser oscillator. Two superconducting helically wound periodic magnetics have been constructed for use with the laser. In this paper we present a discussion of design considerations and test results for the two magnets. The tests included measurement of the magnitude and the variation of the transverse magnetic field with radius in the bore of the magnets, the critical current, and the intensity, angular distribution, and spectrum of the spontaneous radiation emitted by electrons moving through the field.     

On "Psychology and mental retardation" position statement.

Comments on a statement that appeared in the March 1970 American Psychologist article entitled "Psychology and Mental Retardation" (Anonymous; see record 1970-15620-001). Part of the present commentary reads as follows: "I am not in agreement with the statement that educational psychological personnel are likely to provide the "most productive approaches" in dealing with the problems of mental retardation. This position simply places educational psychology in the same untenable bind that other disciplines, including medicine, psychiatry, education, and sociology, have achieved in the past when they claimed exclusive domain to serving the mentally retarded. Educational psychology should be devoting its efforts to working together with other disciplines rather than to making exaggerated claims of its superiority." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mixed finite element method for axisymmetric shells

A mixed variational formulation is used as basis for developing a mixed finite element method for axisymmetric shell. The independent unknowns of the method are the axial and radial displacement components, the rotation of the normal to the middle surface and the meridional bending stress couple. The basic element is a frustrum of curved meridian. General advantages of the mixed method are presented, one of which is the possibility of using piece-wise linear functions of the meridional arclength to represent the basic unknowns. Test results are presented for plate bending, transverse shear deformation, membrane behaviour, edge-zone bending, bending near the junction of two shells, convergence of the method and accuracy of middle surface curvature interpolation. Shell geometries considered are cylindrical, conical, spherical and ellipsoidal. Good results are obtained which should increase interest in the relatively less known and less tested mixed method as compared to the stiffness method.