Categorically defined targets trigger spatiotemporal visual attention.

Transient attention to a visually salient cue enhances processing of a subsequent target in the same spatial location between 50 to 150 ms after cue onset (K. Nakayama & M. Mackeben, 1989). Do stimuli from a categorically defined target set, such as letters or digits, also generate transient attention? Participants reported digit targets among keyboard symbols in a changing array of 8 items. When 1 target preceded a second target in the same location at a stimulus onset asynchrony of 107 ms (but not 213 ms), the second target was reported more often than in a condition in which there was no leading target. When the 2 targets were at different locations, report of the second target was impaired. With both letters and digits as targets, the enhancement effect was shown not to be due to category priming. Critically, the attentional benefit was present whether or not participants reported the leading target. Transient attention, contingent attentional capture, popout, and Lag 1 sparing in the attentional blink may involve a common mechanism for orienting processing resources towards salient and task relevant stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abscheidung von SiOxNy Sperrschichten durch Dual Magnetron Sputtering

Silicon Oxynitride Barrier Layers Deposited by Pulsed‐DC Dual Magnetron Sputtering SiO_xN_y barrier layers have been deposited using pulsed direct current (DC) and medium frequency (MF) sputtering on large area (GEN 5) glass substrates. Several process parameters, such as discharge voltage, boost voltage, and discharge frequency were varied with the goal of increasing system productivity and reducing the arc rate during SiO_xN_y deposition. The arc rate during operation with pulsed DC dual magnetron sputtering was lower than for MF sputtering; however for the same nominal discharge power, the deposition rate using pulsed DC power supplies was slightly lower than for operation with MF. The suitability for use as a barrier layer was deduced by capping the SiO_xN_y layers with DC sputtered ZnO:Al coatings and subjecting the sample stacks to anodic and cathodic degradation and subsequent storage in a damp atmosphere.     

A Strategic Approach for Managing Oil and Gas Assets

The global oil market is experiencing a structural shift. Faced with a rapid price decline, large oil-producing countries had decided to protect their market share, with the hopes of permanently removing expensive supply from the market. Meanwhile, the ability of the US shale oil producers to respond quickly to positive price signals puts downward pressure on prices. On the demand side, advances in renewable technology and the continued effort to curb consumption of fossil fuel conspire to inhibit long-run growth.¹ These factors suggest that the current down-cycle may continue for an extended period of time or even invoke another down-cycle.     

Did professionalization afford better opportunities for young scientists?

I examine whether the professionalization of science, a process that unfolded between 1600 and 1899, afforded better opportunities for young scientists to make significant discoveries. My analysis suggests that the professionalization of the sciences did make it a little easier for scientists to make significant contributions at a younger age. But, I also argue that it is easy to exaggerate the effects of professionalization. Older and middle age scientists continued to play an important role in making significant discoveries throughout the history of modern science.     

Silicon Encapsulated Carbon Nanotubes

A dual stage process of depositing bamboo-like carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) and coating Si using Radio frequency sputtering (RFS) technique. The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron field emission studies (EFE). SEM results suggest a dense network of homogeneous silicon-coated BCNTs. From the comprehensive analysis of the results provided by these techniques emerges the picture of Si encapsulated BCNTs.     

Preventing problems of professional competence in the face of life-threatening illness.

When a psychologist is diagnosed with a serious medical condition and faces the prospect of an arduous treatment regimen and perhaps a bleak prognosis, it may be difficult to attend to one's level of professional competence. Like their clients, psychologists are vulnerable to distress and diminished functioning caused by a life-threatening illness. Psychologists have an ethical responsibility to monitor and ensure professional competence, yet the distress and distraction that accompany serious health problems can inhibit and undermine self-assessments of competence in many ways; distressed psychologists may react with denial, shame, fear, and problematic countertransference responses. The limitations associated with evaluating competence in the context of distress are discussed and several recommendations are offered for psychologists who deliver services, support gravely ill colleagues, and serve in credentialing and regulatory capacities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

九项您非懂不可,又老是忽视的ADC规格

现在虽然有那么多颗模拟数字转换器（ADC）可供挑选,但是在应用设计时,想了解哪一颗ADC合用,就绝对没有那么简单。技术手册往往让这个问题变得更加复杂,更何况有好多项规格根本是以料想不到的方式在影响性能。     

Service delivery in a "don't ask, don't tell" world: Ethical care of gay, lesbian, and bisexual military personnel.

Because current federal law prohibits gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) persons from serving openly in the military, the 65,000 GLB men and women estimated to currently serve in the armed forces face unique occupational stressors and a heightened need for supportive services. Psychologists in military settings face numerous obstacles in efforts to provide ethical and efficacious clinical services to GLB service members. The authors highlight common clinical problems and referral issues for GLB persons in military settings, as well as primary ethical and administrative problems for the psychologists who treat them. The authors conclude with several recommendations for enhancing appropriate treatment while minimizing harm to GLB clients in the military. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A multi-institutional, multinational study of programming concepts using card sort data

Abstract: This paper presents a case study of the use of a repeated single‐criterion card sort with an unusually large, diverse participant group. The study, whose goal was to elicit novice programmers' knowledge of programming concepts, involved over 20 researchers from four continents and 276 participants drawn from 20 different institutions. In this paper we present the design of the study and the unexpected result that there were few discernible systematic differences in the population. The study was one of the activities of the National Science Foundation funded Bootstrapping Research in Computer Science Education project (2003).     

Lessons learned from programmers' experiences with one‐way constraints

One‐way constraints have been incorporated in many graphical user interface toolkits because they are simple to learn, easy to write, and can express many types of useful graphical relationships. This paper is an evaluative paper that examines users' experience with one‐way constraints in two user interface development toolkits, Garnet and Amulet, over a 15‐year time span. The lessons gained from this examination can help guide the design of future constraint systems. The most important lessons are that (1) constraints should be allowed to contain arbitrary code that is written in the underlying toolkit language and does not require any annotations, such as parameter declarations, (2) constraints are difficult to debug and better debugging tools are needed, and (3) programmers will readily use one‐way constraints to specify the graphical layout of an application, but must be carefully and time‐consumingly trained to use them for other purposes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.