When recognition memory fails: The use of an elimination strategy by young children.

Two experiments explored the response strategies of young children in the case of the evident failure of recognition memory. 20 4-yr-olds and 20 7-yr-olds were shown a series of pictorial paired associates. At test, Ss had to choose from a set of 4 items the response that had been paired with a particular stimulus during study. The response set consisted of 3 response items paired with a stimulus during study, and 1 new item. In addition to testing the pairs seen during study, 4 new stimulus–response pairs were tested in the same manner. Response choices for these new stimuli, as well as for the stimuli seen during study, allowed an assessment of the strategies used by Ss in the situation where recognition memory has apparently failed. Results show that Ss of both ages employed a reasoning-by-exclusion elimination strategy in responding to the stimuli. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

NMR investigation on the occurrence of Na species in porous carbons prepared by NaOH activation

A detailed investigation was conducted about the process of alkali activation of charred rice hulls using NaOH. A carbon-rich precursor was initially prepared from the pyrolysis of rice hulls under N₂ atmosphere, part of it being leached with HF to remove silica. The precursor was then mixed with NaOH, heat-treated at activation temperatures from 600 to 800 °C, and part of the product was finally washed with distilled water. Thermogravimetric curves under O₂ flux showed a strong reduction in the ash content of the activated samples, indicating the consumption of silica during the activation process. From X-ray diffractometry, ²⁹Si, and ²³Na NMR spectroscopy, it was possible to identify the formation of sodium carbonate and silicates in the non-washed samples. After washing, all these compounds were removed and specific surface area measurements indicated a substantial porosity development, with larger surface area values obtained for the samples prepared from the HF-leached precursor. The use of ²³Na NMR spectroscopy indicated the retention of sodium in the washed samples, in a chemical environment distinct from carbonates and silicates. The shapes and positions of the observed resonance lines pointed to a disordered environment, associated with oxygenated surface groups within the porous structure of the activated carbons.     

The Magnetometric System of the СПРУТ-VI Instrument Package

The magnetometric system of the -VI instrument package installed on board the Mir orbital station in 1999 is described. The system was a fluxgate magnetometer that enabled high-precwasion vector measurements (with a resolution of 0.1 nT for each component) of the magnetic field over a range of ±65000 nT. The operating temperature range of the sensing device was –170 to +80°C and the temperature range of the system electronics was –55 to +60°C. The system was used for studying fluctuations of the Earth's magnetic field and characteristics of various particle formations in near-equatorial and low latitudes as well as calculating the pitch-angle distribution of fluxes of charged particles and determining the exact spatial coordinates of isolated malfunctions in microcircuits.     

Model validation study of carbon monoxide transport due to portable electric generator operation in an attached garage

A series of tests was conducted to characterize the indoor carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations resulting from portable electric generators operating in the attached garage of a test house under various use and environmental conditions. An extensive model validation effort using the multizone airflow and indoor air quality (IAQ) model CONTAM was carried out using the data from seven tests with a generator operating in the attached garage to compare predicted CO concentrations with measured values. The agreement between the measurements and predictions of the O₂ concentrations in the garage and the average CO concentration for the house zones was excellent for the data set as a whole. The agreement was somewhat worse for the garage CO concentrations. Overall, the house zone average and garage CO concentration predictions and measurements were within about 20% and 30%, respectively, when averaged over all cases.     

Gluten‐free pasta: effect of green plantain flour addition and influence of starch modification on the functional properties and resistant starch content

Green plantain flour (GPF) is rich in indigestible carbohydrates, especially in resistant starch (RS). The objective of this study was to improve the functional pasta properties and RS content by producing gluten‐free (GF) pasta based on rice flour with different amounts of GPF addition (15–60% of total flour blend). Egg albumen (3.5–6.0% of total flour) and dough moisture (36–40%, dough humidity%), at constant emulsifier (0.5% of total flour) addition, were optimised in the first trials. The results showed that an addition up to 30% GPF with higher amount of egg albumen (6%) at dough moisture of 38% provided pasta with acceptable cooking quality and high RS content. Some qualities and/or RS content of GF pasta samples was further improved by adding 30% pregelatinised flours from the native GPF or drum‐dried green banana flour (DDGBF) in combination with applying varied steps of cooking and/or cooling, which were applied after pasta extrusion prior to drying them. The study suggests that GPF, in its native form, but particularly when pregelatinised, is a promising ingredient to be used for the production of GF pasta.     

Nucleation and successive microstructure evolution: simulation approaches for a comprehensive picture from the atomistic to the microscale

What determines the mechanical material properties of a material sample after solidification is strongly tied to its microstructure. Nevertheless, the precise laws governing the initial stage of this structuring process, i.e. nucleation and the successive transiental microstructure evolution scenarios remain far from being fully understood even today. Here we show how the phase-field method, which originally established itself to tackle the free boundary problem given by microstructure evolution, can also be employed to investigate the energetics of heterogeneous nucleation in a solidifying sample. Moreover it is demonstrated, how the phase-field crystal method can shade more light in open questions regarding a quantitative formulation of nucleation statistics to thereupon simulate the phase transition phenomena in solidification from nucleation to crystallization in larger domains quantitatively. Finally we discuss how both methods can be joined to study nucleation from the atomic to the microscale.     

Evolutionary algorithms for real world applications [Application Notes]

In this section, we will report on three applications of evolutionary algorithms (EA) in real world parameter optimization. These applications show how the principles, such as robustness and representation independence, make it possible to extend the scope of optimization algorithms available so far and find answers to problems where classical solution methods fail.Evolutionary algorithms are today a state-of-the-art methodology in solving hard optimization problems, and are regularly being used in industries such as automotive and aerospace. In fact, these algorithms have revolutionized the way hard problems are being solved today. The pioneers of evolutionary computation, including Larry Fogel as one the key founders of the field, have been laying the foundations with their creativity and visionary approach toward science.     

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava

BACKGROUND: The inferior vena cava is an uncommon location for leiomyosarcoma, a malignant tumor which develops from the smooth muscle tissue of the media. CASE REPORT: A 76-year-old woman was hospitalized for swelling of the lower limbs. Ultrasonography, computed tomography of the abdomen and magnetic resonance imaging showed tumoral invasion of the inferior vena cava extending to the atrium. Histology examination of a tumoral fragment obtained by transjugular catheterism affirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. DISCUSSION: Prognosis of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is very poor. No medical or surgical treatment has given satisfactory results. Two factors would explain the poor prognosis: the tumoral localization and the low degree of tumoral differentiation. Clinical presentation and imaging findings suggest the diagnosis which must be confirmed by pathology examination of a tumoral biopsy specimen.