Methods for identifying emerging General Purpose Technologies: a case study of nanotechnologies

Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science with the potential to generate new and enhance existing products and transform the production process. US patent data is used to track the emergence of nanotechnologies since 1978. The nanotechnologies that have undergone the most development are identified using patent citation data and co-citation patterns of patents are examined to define clusters of related nanotechnologies. The potential for economic impact of the emerging nanotechnologies is assessed using a generality index.     

Adult attachment orientations, self–other boundary regulation, and splitting tendencies in a college sample.

In a sample of 247 college students, the contributions of adult attachment orientations and several other boundary regulation variables to measures of self-splitting (i.e., the tendency to report diffuse and chaotic self-experiences) and other-splitting (i.e., the tendency to acknowledge unstable perceptions of and feelings toward one's friends) were explored. Adult attachment orientations and self-other boundary regulation variables, respectively, explained unique variance in each criterion measure. High levels of attachment anxiety and self-concealment and low levels of self-other differentiation contributed most prominently to self-splitting, whereas high attachment anxiety, low emotional reactivity, and high needs for social approval best predicted other-splitting. Implications of these findings for advancing a more delineated understanding of splitting tendencies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High performance GaAs MESFETs with molecular implanted and optimized lowly-doped drain structure for maximized speed, gain and breakdown performance

GaAs MESFETs with novel lowly-doped drain structures have been developed utilizing molecular implants of silicon trifluoride. Short-channel effects in the 1/4 μm enhancement- and depletion-mode transistors have been suppressed with drain-induced barrier height lowering of less than 70 mV/V and pinch-off voltage shifts of less than 220 mV as the gate length was scaled from 1.0 to 1/4 μm. The 3-terminal breakdown, the transconductance to output conductance ratio, and the unity current gain, cut-off frequency were simultaneously optimized. The E-mode device possessed breakdown of >10 V, G_m · R_ds > 9.5, F_t > 55 GHz, and nominal on-resistance of 2.1 Ω mm while the D-mode device had breakdown >10 V, G_m · R_ds > 6.0, F_t > 45 GHz, and nominal on-resistance of 1.9 Ω mm. These optimized transistors enabled the realization of a variety of low-power digital and high-power mixed signal circuits, using 3-level source-coupled transistor and common-mode logic, such as laser and electro-optic drivers, highly integrated transceivers, multiplexers, demultiplexers, and clock data recover circuits.     

Effect of policy-based bioenergy demand on southern timber markets: A case study of North Carolina

Key factors driving renewable energy demand are state and federal policies requiring the use of renewable feedstocks to produce energy (renewable portfolio standards) and liquid fuels (renewable fuel standards). However, over the next decade, the infrastructure for renewable energy supplies is unlikely to develop as fast as both policy- and market-motivated renewable energy demands. This will favor the use of existing wood as a feedstock in the first wave of bioenergy production. The ability to supply wood over the next decade is a function of the residual utilization, age class structure, and competition from traditional wood users. Using the North Carolina Renewable Portfolio Standard as a case study, combined with assumptions regarding energy efficiency, logging residual utilization, and traditional wood demands over time, we simulate the impacts of increased woody biomass demand on timber markets. We focus on the dynamics resulting from the interaction of short-run demand changes and long-term supply responses. We conclude that logging residuals alone may be unable to meet bioenergy demands from North Carolina’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. Thus, small roundwood (pulpwood) may be used to meet remaining bioenergy demands, resulting in increased timber prices and removals; displacement of traditional products; higher forest landowner incomes; and changes in the structure of the forest resource.     

Cold fusion experiments using Maxwellian plasmas and sub-atmospheric deuterium gas

Experiments are being performed to initiate the cold fusion process in Maxwellian plasmas and sub-atmospheric deuterium gas. Thus far, apparent neutron counts have been observed using a BF₃ probe and Ludlum model 2200 digital counter, and a broad 8.1 MeV peak has been observed using a 3-inch sodium iodide crystal and a Nucleus PCA II multichannel analyzer. The results appear to be dependent upon the temperature of the palladium sample, deuterium pressure, and the type of palladium sample used. The results are interesting but not sufficient for any conclusions at this point.     

Spontaneous recovery of extinguished fear responses deepens their extinction: A role for error-correction mechanisms.

A series of experiments used a within-subject design to study spontaneous recovery of fear responses (freezing) to an extinguished conditioned stimulus (CS) in rats. Experiments 1, 2, 3, and 4 demonstrated that: a remotely extinguished CS elicited more freezing than a recently extinguished one on a common test; that the CS showing recovery underwent greater response loss across additional extinction than the one lacking recovery; and that spontaneous recovery and deepening of response loss survived reconditioning. Experiment 5 demonstrated that an excitor extinguished in compound with a CS showing recovery suffered greater loss than an excitor extinguished in compound with a CS not showing recovery, implying that the differential change is regulated by a common error term. Experiments 6 and 7 demonstrated that extinction of a compound composed of two CSs, one showing recovery and a second lacking recovery, produced greater loss to the CS that showed recovery, implying that the change is also regulated by individual error term. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modeling missile propellant fires in shipboard compartments

There are a number of shipboard situations where the unintentional burning of missile propellant is a concern. Full-scale test programs have investigated the phenomena associated with propellant fires. An existing computer fire model, FAST, was modified to account for fire phenomena specific to missile propellant combustion. The modified computer program and the developed missile propellant burning rate algorithm were exercised in blind predictions of full-scale tests. Comparisons between the blind predictions and the test data are presented.     

The Brief Symptom Inventory: Measuring psychological distress in spinal cord injury.

Explored the appropriateness of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) as a measure of psychological distress among 79 traumatic spinal cord injured (SCI) patients (aged 18–70 yrs) and emphasized the limitations of using the BSI as a replacement for the SCL-90—Revised (SCL-90—R). Ss' BSI scores were compared with a nonpatient normative group (N?=?974). Ss were significantly more psychologically distressed in somatization, depression, and phobic anxiety than the normative group. However, several somatization symptoms endorsed by these Ss are common physical effects of SCI rather than psychosomatic complaints. When comparing BSI and SCL-90—R scores of the same Ss, significant statistical differences were found with respect to the level of psychological distress being reported by each test. The BSI may not represent an equivalent abbreviated form of the SCL-90—R for the SCI population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dynamic processes underlying adult attachment organization: Toward an attachment theoretical perspective on the healthy and effective self.

Contemporary attachment theory is inspiring a burgeoning literature on adult attachment. This literature offers counseling psychology a compelling framework for understanding the healthy and effective self. In this article, the authors review studies probing the cognitive processes, affect self-regulatory dynamics, and relationship behaviors associated with secure (primary) and insecure (secondary) adult attachment strategies. They then offer a portrait of the healthy, effective personality that is consistent with theory and research on adult attachment. Finally, in an effort to understand key characteristics of successful movement toward the healthy and effective self, the authors review empirical extensions of attachment theory to the therapeutic context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex and acculturation differences in occupational values among Chinese-American children.

A study of sex and acculturation differences in occupational values among a group of Chinese-American children (5th and 6th graders) found that money and task satisfaction were very important values, whereas object orientation and solitude were quite unimportant. The high-acculturation children valued self-realization more than the low-acculturation children. Some sex differences in occupational values were also found among this group of children: boys valued object orientation, self-realization, and ideas–data more than did girls, and girls valued altruism more than did boys. The counseling and research implications of the findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)