Direct WIMP detection with cryogenic detectors

Cryogenic detectors have been developed since the mid 1980s and have been applied successfully to dark-matter searches since the mid 1990s. Among the advantages of cryogenic detectors are their high sensitivity to nuclear recoil, their low detection thresholds, the wide choice of target materials and the possibility of implementing event type recognition on an event-by-event basis. I explain the basics of cryogenic detectors, review various implementations, discuss advantages and drawbacks and give an overview of current dark-matter-search experiments based upon cryogenic detectors.     

Cost-efficient parallel programs based on set-distributions for polynomial interpolation

The paper presents parallel algorithms for Lagrange and Hermite interpolation methods formally derived from specifications, and using set-distributions. Set-distributions are based on set-valued mappings, and they assign a data object to more than one process. The derivation from specifications assures the correctness, and the set-distributions assure the efficiency of the programs. The obtained parallel algorithms have very good time complexities and speeds-up, and they are also cost-efficient. We consider the number of processes p to be a parameter of the algorithms, so, bounded parallelism is considered. The derivation of the algorithms is not ruled by any particular interconnection network. The possible mappings on different networks could be evaluated. The performance analysis is done considering a full-connected network, and other two interconnection networks: hypercube and multi-mesh hypercube, which preserve the cost-efficiency of the algorithms.     

Assessing the Novelty of Computer-Generated Narratives Using Empirical Metrics

Novelty is a key concept to understand creativity. Evaluating a piece of artwork or other creation in terms of novelty requires comparisons to other works and considerations about the elements that have been reused in the creative process. Human beings perform this analysis intuitively, but in order to simulate it using computers, the objects to be compared and the similarity metrics to be used should be formalized and explicitly implemented. In this paper we present a study on relevant elements for the assessment of novelty in computer-generated narratives. We focus on the domain of folk-tales, working with simple plots and basic narrative elements: events, characters, props and scenarios. Based on the empirical results of this study we propose a set of computational metrics for the automatic assessment of novelty. Although oriented to the implementation of our own story generation system, the measurement methodology we propose can be easily generalized to other creative systems.     

Using neural networks to predict financial reporting fraud: Part 1

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the science of building computer devices and software applications that mimic many of the characteristics that we associate with human behaviour, such as the ability to reason, see, learn, solve problems, understand languages, and so on. AI systems include natural languages, robotics, expert systems and neural networks. This article focuses on neural networks, which can be designed for problems that arise at any managerial level and may be used to predict the occurrence of fraud.     

Estimation of evaporative fraction and evapotranspiration from MODIS products using a complementary based model

We present a new formulation to derive evaporative fraction (EF) and evapotranspiration (ET) maps from remotely sensed data without auxiliary relationships or site-specific relationships. This formulation is based on Granger's complementary relationship and Priestley-Taylor's equation. The proposed model eliminates the wind function and resistance parameters commonly applied to ET calculation by including a relative evaporation parameter (ET/Epot). By combining this relative evaporation parameter, Granger's complementary relationship and Priestley-Taylor equation, we obtain a simple equation to estimate ET. We tested and validated the proposed formulation over the Southern Great Plains (SGP) region of the United States for seven clear sky days during March-October 2003. MODIS Atmospheric and Land products were the only source of data used in this study. Estimates of ET show an overall root mean square error and bias of 33.89 and − 10.96 Wm^− 2, respectively. Our results suggest that the proposed approach is robust and valid for a wide range of atmospheric and surface conditions.     

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Syntheses of 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-c]pteridines. Potential substrates for xanthine oxidase

A synthetic route for the preparation of 9-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-c]pteridines 8 is described. Their reactivities towards xanthine oxidase from Arthrobacter M-4 are determined and compared with the pteridine derivatives 6-phenylpteridin-4[3H]-thione 5, 6-phenyl-4-thiomethylpteridine 6, 4-hydrazino-6-phenylpteridine 7, 3-N-methyl-6-phenylpteridin-4[3H]-thione 19, 4-amino-6-phenylpteridine 22 and 1-N-methyl-6-phenylpteridin-4[1H]-one 24, in order to inspect a possible influence of pyrimidine ring substitution pattern on their interaction with the bacterial enzyme. It has been suggested that a planar structure of the pteridine moiety and the substituents could be an important factor that so far has been overlooked when considering the enzyme activity. Some literature data are also discussed in view of revision of structure assignment of the compounds 12, 14, and 17. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Listening comprehension, oral expression, reading comprehension, and written expression: Related yet unique language systems in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7.

Age-normed tests of listening comprehension, oral expression, reading comprehension, and written expression were administered in Grades 1 (n = 128), 3, and 5, or 3 (n = 113), 5, and 7. Confirmatory factor analyses compared 1- and 4-factor models at each grade level and supported a 4-factor model of language by ear, mouth, eye, and hand. Multiple regressions identified which of the 3 other language skills explained unique variance in each of the 4 language skill outcomes and provided additional evidence that language is not a single skill. Individuals' ipsative scores (amount that the standard score for age on each language measure deviated from individual's mean for all 4 measures) showed that 25% to 30% of individuals showed relative strengths or weaknesses (±1 SD) in specific language skills, but only 7% were stable across Grades 3 and 5. Findings are discussed in reference to (a) theoretical implications for idea comprehension and expression via language by ear, mouth, eye, and hand; and (b) educational applications of observed developmental and individual differences for general, special, and gifted education. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)