Transmission of very slow neutrons through material foils and its influence on the design of ultracold neutron sources

At the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), a very intense source of ultracold neutrons (UCN) is being built. The UCN converter of solid deuterium must be contained in a vessel. Produced UCN leave that vessel through its top lid. To decide on the design of the vessel and the top lid, we have measured the transmission of neutrons with velocities between 3 and 20 m/s through different material foils. Contrary to expectations, we found that transmission through aluminium and aluminium alloys is equal or even higher compared to zirconium and reactor-grade zirconium alloys, respectively.     

A brain-like neural network for periodicity analysis.

This paper introduces a brain-like neural model for sound processing. The periodicity analyzing network (PAN) is a bio-inspired neural network of spiking neurons. The PAN consists of complex models of neurons, which can be used for understanding the dynamics of individual neurons and neuronal networks. On a technical level, the PAN is able to compute the ratio of modulation and carrier frequency of harmonic sound signals. The PAN model may, therefore, be used in audio signal processing applications, such as sound source separation, periodicity analysis, and the cocktail party problem.     

N,N-dimethyldioncophyllinium A iodide: synthesis, stereoanalysis, and antimalarial activity of the first N-quaternary naphthylisoquinolinium salt

Since the reported incidence of pericardial effusion following thrombolysis is highly variable, we have evaluated 80 consecutive patients with first acute myocardial infarction treated with streptokinase. Two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed on days 1, 2, 3, and 7, at 3 and 6 weeks, and 3, 6, and 12 months following acute myocardial infarction. Throughout the study, pericardial effusion was found in 7 of 80 (8.75%) patients, being small in 5 patients, moderate in 1, and large in 1 patient. No clinical, angiographic, or echocardiographic variable was associated with pericardial effusion formation. The incidence of pericardial effusion found in our study is almost three times lower than in other echocardiographic studies on pericardial effusion in thrombolysed patients. Whether this differences results from the beneficial effects of streptokinase is not clear.     

Cross-cultural investigation of the validity of Erikson's theory of personality development.

Constructed a self-report questionnaire for measuring the personality components that, according to E. H. Erikson (1950, 1959, 1968) are formed before the onset of old age. This applied to a sample of 1,859 15–60 yr old South African White and Black males and females. Results indicate that the reliability of the total scale was high for both Black and White Ss. The reliabilities of the subscales were adequate. Evidence of the validity of the scale is discussed. The components of personality that theoretically develop in childhood seemed strongly interrelated in adolescent and adult Whites. White women appeared to solve the identity crisis earlier, and they experienced a higher degree of intimacy than did White men, although the difference narrowed with age. In both sexes, psychosocial development was related to well-being. Black men seem to resolve the identity crisis only after age 40 yrs and there were indications that the psychosocial development of Black adult women was frustrated. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)