Number 2 (August 1976)

A Status Report on the Okaloosa Darter in Northwest Florida. By M.F. Mettee, et al., plus NewsNotes, 4pp

Development of a Hydrogen Evolving Photocatalytic Membrane

AbstractPhotoelectrochemical cells have a fundamental problem in that the thin, closely spaced laminar phases normally comprising an electrochemical cell do not readily lend themselves to penetration by external light as part of a solar energy conversion scheme. This has led to novel cell configurations that are more amenable to solar absorption. We are working on a “photocatalytic membrane”, where a single sheet comprised of two semiconductor layers combine their photopotentials to achieve a water-splitting voltage. A schematic depicting how the membrane might be configured is shown below. Light absorption in respective semiconductor layers drives oxidation on one side of the membrane and reduction on the other. Perforations filled with ion-exchange polymer allow the flow of ionic charge carriers (hydronium ion in acidic media) between anolyte and catholyte compartments. To fabricate such a photocatalytic membrane, a sequence of deposition steps must be developed where each subsequent step is compatible with the previous ones. Our strategy is to build n-type and p-type layers on opposite sides of a thin, perforated metallic sheet. A prototype device involving electrodeposition of n-WO3 and p-CdTe on mechanically perforated stainless #304 has been fabricated. A net photovoltage of 0.8 V in aqueous acidic electrolyte was estimated

Atlas of Fishes of the St. Louis Bay Drainage in Southern Mississippi

This atlas presents a comprehensive report on fishes collected in the St. Louis Bay drainage between October 1950 and October 1989, prior to several recent years of accelerated commercial and residential development. A total of 261 samples taken at 126 sites from headwaters of major streams to the mouth of St. Louis Bay resulted in the collection of 75,625 specimens representing 124 species plus 2 hybrid sunfish combinations. Precise locality data are given for each collection site, with number of species and specimens taken at each site, followed by a total list of species taken at each site. A distribution map is presented for each species. The legend on each map includes family name, scientific and common name of the species, number of collection sites, and total number of specimens collected. The geographical location of the St. Louis Bay drainage is briefly described, as are local physical, geological, and vegetational features. We believe this atlas will be a useful document to assess the environmental impacts of future economic development on aquatic communities in the area

Developing Creativity: Artificial Barriers in Artificial Intelligence

The greatest rhetorical challenge to developers of creative artificial intelligence systems is convincingly arguing that their software is more than just an extension of their own creativity. This paper suggests that “creative autonomy,” which exists when a system not only evaluates creations on its own, but also changes its standards without explicit direction, is a necessary condition for making this argument. Rather than requiring that the system be hermetically sealed to avoid perceptions of human influence, developing creative autonomy is argued to be more plausible if the system is intimately embedded in a broader society of other creators and critics. Ideas are presented for constructing systems that might be able to achieve creative autonomy