A note on calculating autocovariances of long-memory processes

In this paper, we consider a method (splitting) for calculating the auto- covariances of fractional integrated processes (ARFIMA) and generalized integrated processes (GARMA). The splitting method does not require any restriction on the autoregressive roots, and allows fast calculation of the autocovariances of these processes.     

The Structure of Working Memory From 4 to 15 Years of Age.

The structure of working memory and its development across the childhood years were investigated in children 4-15 years of age. The children were given multiple assessments of each component of the A. D. Baddeley and G. Hitch (1974) working memory model. Broadly similar linear functions characterized performance on all measures as a function of age. From 6 years onward, a model consisting of 3 distinct but correlated factors corresponding to the working memory model provided a good fit to the data. The results indicate that the basic modular structure of working memory is present from 6 years of age and possibly earlier, with each component undergoing sizable expansion in functional capacity throughout the early and middle school years to adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of the Basal Ganglia in Category Learning: How Do Patients With Parkinson's Disease Learn?

The purpose of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of the role of the basal ganglia in learning and memory by examining learning strategies among patients with basal ganglia dysfunction. Using a probabilistic category learning task (the "weather prediction" task) previously shown to be sensitive to basal ganglia function, the authors examined patterns of performance during learning and used mathematical models to capture different learning strategies. Results showed that patients with Parkinson's disease exhibit different patterns of strategy use. Specifically, most controls initially used a simple, but suboptimal, strategy that focused on single-cue-outcome associations; eventually, however, most controls adopted a more complex, optimal learning strategy, integrating single-cue associations to predict outcomes for multiple-cue stimuli. In contrast, the majority of individuals with Parkinson's disease continued to rely on simple single-cue learning strategies throughout the experiment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

读张抗抗《集体记忆》有感

忘记历史就意味着背叛,张抗抗在《集体记忆》中描写史志工作者在搜集史料时遇到了这种背叛现象,知情人有意无意地患上了“集体忘却”症。通过梳理此症的主要表现,即强占记忆与摧毁记忆,指出其社会文化政治因素在于建国以来的主流思想。     

Anthony D. Wagner: Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology.

Presents the citation for Anthony D. Wagner, who received the Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology (cognition and human learning) "for outstanding and innovative research on the neural basis of memory and executive control." A brief profile and a selected bibliography accompany the citation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age effects in coding tasks: Componential analysis and test of the sensory deficit hypothesis.

Multiple forms of a symbol-digit substitution task were used to provide a componential analysis of age differences in coding task performance. The results demonstrated age differences in feature encoding, memory, and visual search. A 2nd experiment was conducted with young adults to investigate a sensory deficit as a locus of age differences. The spatial contrast sensitivity deficit of older adults was simulated on forms by applying a digital filter. Persons in the age-simulated contrast condition performed worse than those in the normal contrast condition. The stimulus degradation effect was linked to visual search speed. The study illustrates the utility of componential analysis and offers direct support for the hypothesis that sensory deficits affect performance on tasks used to assess intelligence (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Efficient return algorithms for associated plasticity with multiple yield planes

A new return method for implicit integration of linear isotropic yield criteria is presented. The basic idea is to perform all the manipulations in the principal stress space and thereby achieve very simple formulae for calculating the plastic corrector stresses, based on the constant gradient of such criteria. The return formulae are in closed form and no iteration is required. The method accounts for three types of stress return: return to a single yield plane, to a discontinuity line at the intersection of two yield planes and to a discontinuity point at the intersection between three or more yield planes. The infinitesimal and the consistent elastoplastic constitutive matrix are calculated for each type of stress return, as are the conditions to ascertain which type of return is required. The method is exemplified with the Mohr–Coulomb yield criterion. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Binding, relational memory, and recall of naturalistic events: A developmental perspective.

This research was an investigation of children's performance on a task that requires memory binding. In Experiments 1 and 2, 4-year-olds, 6-year-olds, and adults viewed complex pictures and were tested on memory for isolated parts in the pictures and on the part combinations (combination condition). The results suggested improvement in memory for the combinations between the ages of 4 and 6 years but not in memory for the isolated parts. In Experiments 2 and 3, the authors also examined the developmental relationship between performance in the combination condition and free recall of a naturalistic event, finding preliminary evidence that performance on a memory task that requires binding is positively related to performance in episodic memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Existence, uniqueness and stability of the equilibrium points of a SHARON bioreactor model

This paper addresses the dynamics of a SHARON reactor, a promising technology for ammonium removal from concentrated wastewater streams. The contraction mapping theorem is used to determine which operating conditions of a SHARON reactor with pH-control result in a unique equilibrium state. However, this approach only identifies the case of very large dilution rates, in practice corresponding with complete biomass wash-out, i.e. with complete loss of biological activity. Practical operation of a SHARON reactor aims at reaching ammonium conversion to nitrite. To identify such interesting operating points, the equilibrium points are subsequently calculated directly in terms of input variables for a simplified SHARON reactor model. The stability of the obtained equilibrium points is assessed and the corresponding phase portraits are analyzed. The influence of slightly varying parameter and input values is investigated as well.     

All updateable objects in working memory are updated whenever any of them are modified: Evidence from the memory updating paradigm.

In a series of experiments, participants were required to keep track of 1 or 2 working memory (WM) objects, having to update their values in 80% of the trials. Updating cost, defined as the difference between update and non-update trials, was larger when 2 objects were involved compared with when there was only 1 object was involved. This finding was interpreted as evidence that the updating process encompasses both objects in WM, even though only 1 of them is actually updated. This feature of WM updating is limited to objects defined as "updateable," throughout the trial sequence. The results are explained by the need to reprogram the phonological loop when updating or the need for desynchronization followed by resynchronization of WM contents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)