Predictive sensor method and apparatus

A microprocessor and electronics package employing predictive methodology was developed to accelerate the response time of slowly responding hydrogen sensors. The system developed improved sensor response time from approximately 90 seconds to 8.5 seconds. The microprocessor works in real-time providing accurate hydrogen concentration corrected for fluctuations in sensor output resulting from changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature. Following the successful development of the hydrogen sensor system, the system and predictive methodology was adapted to a commercial medical thermometer probe. Results of the experiment indicate that, with some customization of hardware and software, response time improvements are possible for medical thermometers as well as other slowly responding sensors

Medical Marijuana Revisited

The use of marijuana as a medicinal agent is an old practice in many parts of the world. In recent decades it has gained increased attention of the general public and of the medical profession. Ten states and Canada have legalized medical marijuana; physicians prescribe it for nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. They also prescribe it for appetite loss and wasting in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Controversies exist about its use in the treatment of glaucoma, spasticity or chronic intractable pain. Though state governments have passed laws authorizing physicians to prescribe marijuana, the federal government contends that the drug is a Schedule I agent with no medicinal use, a high potential for abuse and no accepted safety for use in medically-supervised treatment. There are legal issues regarding its use as a medicinal agent, and the United States Supreme Court has provided rulings on these matters. This paper will explore those controversies, the history of medical marijuana and the implications for its future use as a therapeutic agent in this country

POWER AND COHERENCE MATTERS: DOES PERCEIVED GROUP ORGANIZATION INCREASE ATHEIST PREJUDICE?

Atheists are some of the least liked people in the world. Previous research has demonstrated that in most stigmatized groups, increased prevalence of the group increases prejudice towards the group. However, the opposite has been found with atheists- increased perceived prevalence decreases prejudice towards atheists. One post-hoc explanation provided for this difference is that since atheists are easily concealable and unorganized as a group, their greater prevalence may not be perceived as a threat. In the present thesis, I 1) attempted to replicate the existing finding that perceived increased prevalence would increase trust towards atheists and 2) directly tested the hypothesis that if atheist groups are presented as collectively powerful and coherent, increased prevalence will no longer decrease anti-atheist prejudice. I did not find support for the hypothesis that prevalence increases atheist trust, nor did I find support for my hypotheses that power and cohesion would manipulate distrust. Atheist prejudice is still pervasive, however, prejudice against atheists may be changing