Fuzzy-trace theory and false memory: new frontiers

We describe the origins of fuzzy-trace theory, including Piagetian, interference, information-processing, and judgment and decision-making influences. The contrasting properties of gist and verbatim memory serve as its foundation and, in recent models of spontaneous and implanted false memories, explain seemingly contradictory developmental trends, such as reverse developmental findings, differential time courses for true and false memories, and conflicting effects of trace strength. However, approaches that integrate fuzzy-trace theory with neurological, social, emotional, and motivational perspectives are needed. A method for accomplishing this integration, using the recent models, is introduced and new research that spans these perspectives is discussed. Relations to other contemporary theories, especially source-monitoring and dual-process theories, are also explained. We conclude by rejecting the notion that spontaneous false memories are actually "true" and distinguish gist and verbatim senses of the term "true" that have different consequences in real life.     

Widely Tunable Continuous-Wave Mid-Infrared Laser Source Based on Difference-Frequency Generation in AgGaS(2)

We demonstrate difference-frequency generation in the 6.8-12.5-mum range by mixing two high-power single-frequency laser diodes in a type II AgGaS(2) crystal. This compact all-solid-state scheme provides maximum output powers that exceed 1 muW and permits continuous adjustment-free scans larger than 2 cm(-1) across the entire tuning range.     

Numerical study of dynamic processes in a continuous medium with a crack initiated by a near-surface disturbance by means of the grid-characteristic method

The purpose of this work is to study the problem of the near-surface disturbance propagation in a massive rock containing various heterogeneities, i.e., empty or filled cracks. Numerical solutions have been obtained for problems of wave propagation in such highly heterogeneous media, including those taking into account the plastic properties of the rock that can be manifested in the vicinity of a seismic gap or a well bore. All kinds of elastic and elastoplastic waves are analyzed resulting from the propagation of the initial disturbance and the waves arising from the reflection from the cracks and from the boundaries of the integration domain. An investigation was carried out of wave identification by means of seismograms obtained at the receiver located near the ground surface. In this study, the grid-characteristic method is employed using computational grids with triangular meshes and boundary conditions formulated at the interface between the rock and the crack, and on free surfaces in an explicit form. The proposed numerical method is extremely general and is suitable for investigations of the processes of seismic waves’ interaction with heterogeneous inclusions because it ensures the construction of the most correct computational algorithms at the boundaries of the integration domain and at the medium’s interface.     

Etiological analysis as an approach to the detection of association networks in the case of a shortage of external information

An approach to the enhancement of mental alertness in order to extract implicit knowledge and convert it into new information is considered. The approach is based on multifaceted analysis of certain objects, situations, problems, ideas, or confusions that appear to be important for a person or a legal entity. The distinctive feature of the approach is the formulation of a large number of “relevant” statements at the initial stage. Each of these statements is used to construct (1) a set of ”factors,” or statements that express the causes, the pretexts, and the conditions (including starting and boundary conditions) and (2) a set of “effects,” or statements that present the consequences, the results, the conclusions, novel requirements and/or suggestions concerning the conditions of implementation, etc. Each factor and effect is subsequently considered as a statement that requires analysis of the same type as the primary statements. The procedure is repeated until the factors and effects that were detected become limited by factors that are not amenable to further analysis or effects that can be regarded as boundary effects relatively to all other effects. The analytical procedure has been validated and is used to solve diverse tasks of pedagogics, to resolve conflicts, and to conduct research.     

Angular selectivity of liquid crystal composite gratings

Angular selectivity of volume phase transmission gratings formed in a liquid crystal composite for s-and p-polarized light is investigated in the absence of external electric field.     

Towards a Mobile Code Management Environment for Complex,Real-Time,Distributed Systems

We present a novel mobile code management environment,currently under design and development. Our design employs anopen architecture, suitable for ``plug-and-play' with COTS andother groups' tools. While we have studied new algorithms, costand objective functions, and other fundamental issues, the maincontribution of this experimental research work is in the environmentitself. It should be noted that networked platforms, such asthe World Wide Web, are inherently not suitable for traditional,predictable real-time applications. Thus, real-time concernsnecessarily need to be blended with others concerns, and thetarget applications, making use of our environment, will toobe a blend of partially hard real-time and partially (or mostly)soft-real- time ones. The prototype environment will thereforesupport performance-based analysis and management focusing notonly on predictability but also on compilation, efficiency, safetyand other tradeoffs. We have selected the Java language and itsbytecode format as a representation for mobile code as well asa language for our implementation.     

Investigation into the formation of phases with a Ba<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>9</Subscript>O<Subscript>20</Subscript>-type structure in the BaO-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and BaO-SrO-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> systems

The mechanism of formation of barium titanate Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ in the BaO-TiO₂ and BaO-SrO-TiO₂ systems is investigated using initial mixtures prepared by three methods, namely, mechanical grinding of the initial reactants, coprecipitation from aqueous solutions of salts, and the sol-gel technique. It is established that, irrespective of the preparation procedure, the formation of Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ proceeds through the formation of the intermediate phases BaTi₄O₉ and BaTi₅O₁₁. The nature of the intermediate phases is determined by the homogeneity and dispersion of the initial mixture, as well as by the stability of the intermediate phase. The most optimum conditions for the synthesis of Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ are provided by the formation of BaTi₅O₁₁ as an intermediate phase upon heat treatment of the coprecipitation products in the nanocrystalline state. The metastability and structural defects in the BaTi₅O₁₁ intermediate phase encourage a decrease in the temperature of the final heat treatment by 100–150°C in the course of the preparation of Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ single-phase ceramics.     

Analysis of the “tailored” contact surface region in a shock tube

A simple method is presented for the computation of the initial parameters of the gas, the working time, and the optimal relationship between the lengths of the high-pressure chamber and the low-pressure channel of a shock tube in the tailored contact surface region which permits a substantial increase in the working time.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 537–542, September, 1976.     

Statistical kinetics of thermally activated fracture

The kinetics of thermofluctuational development of a single crack is approximated by a homogeneous Markov process. Considering an ensemble of non-interacting cracks, we calculate the distribution functions of the dimensions of the crack and of the longevity of identical samples under isothermal creep conditions due to the randomness of thermal fluctuations and of structural inhomogeneities of the samples. The connection between these distributions is discussed. The results are confirmed by available experimental data. It is shown that the scattering of usually observed in experiments reflects the thermally activated nature of the fracture process.

---

Résumé En utilisant un processus de chaîne homogène de Markov, on obtient une approximation du développement d'une fissure simple sous des fluctuations thermiques. En considérant un ensemble de fissures sans interactions, on calcule les fonctions de distribution des dimensions de la fissure ainsi que la durée de vie d'éprouvettes identiques, sous des conditions de fluage isotherme dont le caractère aléatoire est dû à des fluctuations thermiques et à l'hétérogénéité structurale des éprouvettes. On discute la relation qui existe entre ces fonctions et on trouve une vérification des résultats de l'analyse dans les données expérimentales disponibles.On montre que la dispersion de la durée de vie que l'on observe au cours d'essais est le reflet de la nature thermoactive du processus de rupture.