Is it smart to play the horses? Comment on "A day at the races: A study of IQ, expertise, and cognitive complexity" (Ceci & Liker, 1986).

Ceci and Liker (1986b) presented data that they contended shows two things: (a) Handicapping harness races is a cognitively complex undertaking that can be captured by a multiple regression model, and (b) neither overall skill at handicapping nor the complexity of the mental model used is related to standard measures of intelligence. The first contention is not at issue. But the second contention, that handicapping performance is unrelated to IQ, is not supported by the data presented; in fact, the opposite conclusion seems more likely. The purpose of this comment is to point out errors frequently made in individual-differences research concerning population definition, sample selection, dependent and independent variable reliability and validity and interpretation of results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An overheat boiler tube failure

Failure analysis of an electric resistance welded carbon steel boiler tube demonstrated that the mechanism of failure was long-term overheat due to heavy internal scaling, followed by short-term overheat due to localized heating during boiler shutdown.     

Improving the Testing of Power Generation Modules and Resulting Performance Projections

The traditional way of testing power generation modules and projecting their performance may be prone to overestimation of capabilities. Frequently, an assumption is?made that the no-load (NL) voltage measured during testing can simply be employed as the default V _NL in all subsequent calculations using data taken under load. In reality, while current is flowing, wattage due to the Peltier effect creates temperature drops across interface materials. These significantly diminish the ??T across the thermoelectric material and?attenuate the Seebeck voltage. Therefore, for each level of load current, there is a different V _NL that corresponds to the associated ??T. Each of these distinctive V _NL levels should be used for calculations relative to?its associated operational point. With the proper equipment and use of curve fits, it is possible to test and project in a manner which can more closely approximate the true performance characteristics of power generation devices.     

Novel light-emitting devices based on pyridine-containingconjugated polymers

We present novel light-emitting devices based on several pyridine-containing conjugated polymers and copolymers in various device configurations. The high electron affinity of pyridine-based polymers improves stability and electron transport properties of the polymers and enables the use of relatively stable metals such as Al as electron injecting contacts. Bilayer devices utilizing poly(9-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) as a hole-transporting/electron-blocking polymer show dramatically improved efficiency and brightness as compared to single layer devices. This is attributed to charge confinement and exciplex emission at the PVK/emitting polymer interface. The incorporation of conducting polyaniline network electrode into PVK reduces the device turn-on voltage significantly while maintaining the high efficiency. Two novel device configurations that enable the use of high work function metals as electrodes are pointed out     

Dipoles and their possible effects on conductivity in polymer-ceramic composite electrolytes

This paper conceptualizes and discusses the physical existence of electrically active dipoles in polymer-ceramic composite electrolytes. The concept of physical existence of dipoles is supported by experimental evidences that include time dependence, dc field assisted variation, and mechanically induced effects on conductivity.     

Measurement and analysis of neutron and gamma-ray emission rates,other fusion products,and power in electrochemical cells having Pd cathodes

Results of experiments intended to reproduce cold fusion phenomena originally reported by Fleischmann, Pons, and Hawkins are presented. These experiments were performed on a pair of matched electrochemical cells containing 0.1×9 cm Pd rods that were operated for 10 days. The cells were analyzed by the following means: (1) constant temperature calorimetry, (2) neutron counting and γ-ray spectroscopy, (3) mass spectral analysis of⁴He in effluent gases, and⁴He and³He within the Pd metal, (4) tritium analysis of the electrolyte solution, and (5) x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the Pd cathode surface. Within estimated levels of accuracy, no excess power output or any other evidence of fusion products was detected.     

The effects of chemical environment on the nucleation, growth, and stability of ettringite [Ca3Al(OH)6]2(SO4)3·26H2O

Ettringite is responsible for both the initial set of Portland cement and for premature concrete deterioration. A new method of ettringite crystal growth by combining calcium hydroxide and aluminum sulfate solutions was devised to reliably produce crystals that could be seen with a light microscope (45×-320×). The nucleation, growth, morphology, and stability of ettringite in the presence of over 300 chemicals and admixtures, many of which are present in the concrete environment, was then investigated. The plasticizers sorbitol, citrate, and tartrate were found to inhibit ettringite nucleation and growth, as did certain lignosulfonate air-entraining admixtures. The Type B set retarder borax inhibited ettringite formation at <44 ppm. The consequences and implications of this are discussed.     

A comparison of the full-wave and WKB solutions of a plane wave with impulsive time variation reflected from a sech2electron-density profile

This communication compares a more general numerical point-to-point transient wave propagation program to a known analytical (full-wave) solution based upon a certain special geometry and ionospheric profile. The main purpose of the comparison is that of using the known analytical results as a test case for the numerical program. The parameters of the ionosphere were chosen to purposively tax the condition of requiring a slowly varying medium in using the Wentzel-Kramer-Brillouin (WKB) method (i.e., the parameters chosen lead to a sporadicE-type layer). With the results favorable for this case, the application of a numerical procedure, based upon the WEB method, to the more slowly varyingFregion would definitely be acceptable. Based upon the full-wave and WKB solutions, results are given in the form of time-domain waveforms due to reflection of a transient wave from the ionosphere.