Saturation of subjective reward magnitude as a function of current and pulse frequency.

In 6 rats with electrodes in the medial forebrain bundle, the upper portion of the function relating the experienced magnitude of the reward to pulse frequency was determined at currents ranging from 100 to 1,000 μA. The pulse frequency required to produce an asymptotic level of reward was inversely proportional to current except at the lowest currents and highest pulse frequencies. At a given current, the subjective reward magnitude functions decelerated to an asymptote over an interval in which the pulse frequency doubled or tripled. The asymptotic level of reward was approximately constant for currents between 200 and 1,000 μA but declined substantially at currents at or below 100 μA and pulse frequencies at or above 250 to 400 pulses per second. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that the magnitude of the experienced reward depends only on the number of action potentials generated by the train of pulses in the bundle of reward-relevant axons. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optoelectronic integration of a GaAs/AlGaAs bistable field effecttransistor (BISFET) and LED

The bistable field effect transistor (BISFET) is a novel inversion-channel switching device exhibiting abrupt current transitions and hysteresis in its output characteristics. The semiconductor structure of the BISFET is compatible with a range of electronic and optoelectronic devices. In this work, integration of a BISFET with an LED is reported. Both devices have been implemented on a single semiconductor substrate using a single fabrication sequence. The BISFET is used to current drive the LED. Abrupt transitions and hysteresis are seen in the optical output from the circuit in the range of gate voltage from 1.75 V to 1.9 V     

A strategy for designing error detection schemes for general datanetworks

The author presents a five-step methodology that provides insight into the order in which errors should be considered when designing an error detection scheme, which types of error detection mechanisms are most effective, and which layer should be responsible for detecting a given type of error     

Reciprocating flow ion exchange part II: Application to saline water softening

The “hardness” components in sea water can be considerably reduced by means of a new economical fixed bed technique called “Reciprocating Flow Ion Exchange”, when used in conjunction with a closed cycle exchanger-evaporator system. Removal of 87.9% of the calcium and 54.5% of the magnesium in sea water has been obtained with an overall flow rate of 5.0 U. S. g. p. m./sq. ft. Results from bench scale and a 5,000 g. p. d. pilot plant were identical. The virtually continuous cyclic steady-state process requires a small amount of exchanger (0.5 to 2% of the usual ion exchange methods, such as conventional fixed beds or fluidized beds). The effects of variation in operating parameters are discussed.     

Numerical modeling of in-flight characteristics of inconel 625 particles during high-velocity oxy-fuel thermal spraying

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to predict particle dynamic behavior in a high-velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) thermal spray gun in which premixed oxygen and propylene are burnt in a combustion chamber linked to a long, parallel-sided nozzle. The particle transport equations are solved in a Lagrangian manner and coupled with the two-dimensional, axisymmetric, steady state, chemically reacting, turbulent gas flow. Within the particle transport model, the total flow of the particle phase is modeled by tracking a small number of particles through the continuum gas flow, and each of these individual particles is tracked independently through the continuous phase. Three different combustion chamber designs were modeled, and the in-flight particle characteristics of Inconel were 625 studied. Results are presented to show the effect of process parameters, such as particle injection speed and location, total gas flow rate, fuel-to-oxygen gas ratio, and particle size on the particle dynamic behavior for a parallel-sided, 12 mm long combustion chamber. The results indicate that the momentum and heat transfer to particles are primarily influenced by total gas flow. The 12 mm long chamber can achieve an optimum performance for Inconel 625 powder particles ranging in diameter from 20 to 40 μm. At a particular spraying distance, an optimal size of particles is observed with respect to particle temperature. The effect of different combustion chamber dimensions on particle dynamics was also investigated. The results obtained for both a 22 mm long chamber and also one with a conical, converging design are compared with the baseline data for the 12 mm chamber.     

Biomechanical comparison of the dewar and interspinous cervical spine fixation techniques

STUDY DESIGN: This study evaluates and compares the stiffness of two cervical spine fixation techniques. OBJECTIVES: This biomechanical study was carried out to compare the interspinous and Dewar cervical spine fixation techniques. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Interspinous wiring is a commonly used method of fixation in the cervical spine. The Dewar technique is less commonly known and practiced, and clinical experience has suggested that it may be a more stable technique. METHODS: Cervical spine specimens stabilized with the interspinous and "Dewar" techniques were biomechanically tested in flexion and in torsion. Stiffness and energy absorption under moderate loads were compared. The Dewar technique uses contoured double corticocancellous iliac grafts as internal grafts/splints fixed to the spine with threaded pins and wire. The interspinous technique is a single interspinous wire loop. Eleven fresh human cervical spines were harvested from cadavers. The spines were destabilized at C4-C5 by sectioning all tissue except the anterior longitudinal ligament. Each fixation technique was applied alternatively and tested on each spine. RESULTS: In torsion testing (n = 5), the Dewar fusion was 61% stiffer than the interspinous technique (P < 0.02). Dewar: 11.3 N/mm (s.d. 4.9 N/mm) and interspinous: 8.4 N/mm (SD 3.3 N/mm). In flexion testing (n = 6), the Dewar technique was 35% stiffer than the interspinous technique (P < 0.10). Dewar: 655.4 Nmm/degree (SD 293 Nmm/degree) and interspinous: 406.8 Nmm/degree (SD 113.0 Nmm/degree). Energy absorption with the interspinous technique was greater in flexion (P < 0.10) and in torsion (P < 0.005), indicating more deformation with the interspinous technique. There was no statistically significant difference between the means of specimens tested first and those tested second independently of the fixation technique. CONCLUSIONS: These tests indicate that the Dewar cervical spine fixation is stiffer than the single interspinous wire in both flexion and particularly torsion. This project is the only biomechanical study of the Dewar technique that we are aware of, and the results support the clinical findings regarding the effectiveness of this technique.     

High power pulsed lasers

Pulsed high power lasers can deliver sufficient energy on inertial fusion time scales (0.1–10 ns) to heat and compress DT fuel to fusion reaction conditions. Several laser systems have been examined for application to the fusion problem. Examples are Ndglass, CO₂, KrF, and I₂, etc. A great deal of developmental effort has been applied to the Ndglass laser and the CO₂ gas laser systems. These systems now deliver >10⁴ kJ and >20×10¹² W to inertial fusion targets. The Nova Ndglass laser is being constructed to provide >200 kJ and >200×10¹² W of 1 m radiation for fusion experimentation in the mid-1980s. For inertial fusion target gain, >100 times the laser input, it is expected that the laser must deliver 3–5 MJ of energy on the 10–20 ns time scale. This paper reviews the developments in laser technology and outlines approaches to construction of a 3–5 MJ driver.     

A Suite of Tools for Debugging Distributed Autonomous Systems

This paper describes a set of tools that enables developers to log and analyze the run-time behavior of distributed control systems. A feature of the tools is that they can be applied to distributed systems. The logging tools enable developers to instrument C or C++ programs so that data indicating state changes can be logged automatically in a variety of formats. In particular, run-time data from distributed systems can be synchronized into a single relational database. Tools are also provided for visualizing the logged data. Analysis to verify correct program behavior is done using a new interval logic that is described in this paper. The logic enables system engineers to express temporal specifications for the autonomous control program that are then checked against the logged data. The data logging, visualization, and interval logic analysis tools are all fully implemented. Results are given from a NASA distributed autonomous control system application.