Spatial navigation model based on chaotic attractor networks

We present a model of spatial navigation based on the non-convergent dynamics of brain activity. The system includes a hippocampal module that processes global spatial information and a cortical module that deals with local sensory information. We test the model using several spatial navigation paradigms: goal finding, shortcutting and detouring. Computer simulations show that the performance of the agent qualitatively matches that of animals and related models. This new approach provides a novel interpretation of how the brain accomplishes spatial navigation.     

Friction and Thermal Effects of Engineering Plastics Sliding Against Steel and DLN-Coated Counterfaces

Polymers are increasingly used in tribological applications, because of their self-lubricating ability, corrosion resistance and chemical compatibility. However, their performance depends strongly on the parameters of the total tribological system. Not only polymer characteristics, but also counterface properties become important because of their influence on friction and wear, on surface energy and on the thermal conductivity of the total system. Applying a Diamond-Like Nanocomposite (DLN) coating on a steel counterface can improve the tribological behaviour of the sliding couple under certain conditions. In the case of metal sliding against DLN, the high hardness and the wear resistance of the coating is advantageous for better tribological properties. However, for polymers sliding against DLN, the lower thermal conductivity of the DLN coating compared with a steel mating surface dominates friction and wear. In case of polyamides this results in worse tribological performance in contact with the DLN coating, because of polymer melting. In the case of more rigid polymers, such as, e.g., POM-H and PETP, lower coefficients of friction lead to lower frictional heat generation. In these cases, the thermal characteristics of the counterface are less important and the lower surface energy of the DLN coating is favourable for decreased adhesion between the polymer and the coating and consequently better tribological properties.     

2009 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2009) [Conference Reports]

The 2009 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN2009) has been held at the Westin PeachTree Hotel, Atlanta, GA, USA, on June 14-19, 2009. IJCNN is the premier international conference on neural networks theory, analysis and applications. Our conference has been organized by the International Neural Networks Society (INNS) and sponsored jointly by INNS and the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (CIS). This is an exemplary collaboration between the two leading societies on neural networks to create the flagship conference, under the leadership of INNS President Nik Kasabov and CIS President David Fogel. This mutually beneficial cooperation provides solid foundations for future extensive development of the field.     

Intelligent agents

Today, everything moves at such a hectic pace. Everyone has more to think about and more things to do. In a perfect world, everyone would have a personal assistant to handle the mundane, purely routine tasks. Intelligent agents (IAs) could do these mundane jobs automatically. Of course, such flexible and ubiquitous agents are currently not possible for certain cost and feasibility reasons. The paper presents a definition of an intelligent agent and discusses the characteristics of the agent's environment     

Experimental and theoretical investigation of a traveling wave excited TEA nitrogen laser

We have studied the capacitor transfer type of flat-plate-transmission-line traveling wave excited atmospheric pressure nitrogen laser. Experiments were carried over a wide variety of parameters such as charging voltage, separation and angle of electrodes, capacitance of bank, inductance of switching circuit, and geometrical parameters of resonators. The theory is based upon the macroscopic properties of nitrogen discharges. Laser pulses were calculated by solving numerically the space-dependent rate equations for population and photon number densities. The theoretical predictions are in very good agreement with the experimental observations.     

Qualitative case studies of innovative pedagogical practices using ICT

Abstract The Second Instructional Technology in Education Study: Module 2 (SITES M2) is a series of qualitative studies that identify and describe innovative pedagogical practices in 28 participating countries that use technology. The project resulted in 174 case study reports of innovative practice that are currently being analysed. This paper describes the goals, research questions, and methodology for this study and provides a context for the other papers that are published in this issue. Given the large number of case studies, a combined qualitative and quantitative approach to the research is described.     

Excretion of cefonicid and ceftriaxone into the saliva

The serum and saliva levels of cefonicid (Monocid) and ceftriaxon (Rocephin) were studied after iv. administration on mice. It was found that both of the antibiotics were secreted well into saliva and their therapeutic values remained for 4-5 hours.     

Increasing teacher praise and altering its distribution to children of differing on-task levels.

Following baseline observations, 37 Grade 5 children were divided into high, medium, and low on-task groups. Treatment phases included general audio-cuing for teacher praise; cuing combined with instructions, feedback, and praise to focus 67% of the teacher praise on the low on-task subgroup; cuing with focusing instructions removed; and cuing with daily feedback. The increase in teacher praise resulting from general audio-cuing was relatively evenly distributed among the 3 subgroups but increased to 67.3% of the total in favor of the low on-task group with the focusing package. Removal of the focusing procedure decreased the praise rate for this group to 19.4%. Changes in on-task student behavior varied as a function of base rate and treatment condition. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)