Bedo Case Final

This is a creative component for graduation. All financial information was made up and all names and information is fictional

Star tracker operation in a high density proton field

Algorithms that reject transient signals due to proton effects on charge coupled device (CCD) sensors have been implemented in the HDOS ASTRA-l Star Trackers to be flown on the TOPEX mission scheduled for launch in July 1992. A unique technique for simulating a proton-rich environment to test trackers is described, as well as the test results obtained. Solar flares or an orbit that passes through the South Atlantic Anomaly can subject the vehicle to very high proton flux levels. There are three ways in which spurious proton generated signals can impact tracker performance: the many false signals can prevent or extend the time to acquire a star; a proton-generated signal can compromise the accuracy of the star's reported magnitude and position; and the tracked star can be lost, requiring reacquisition. Tests simulating a proton-rich environment were performed on two ASTRA-1 Star Trackers utilizing these new algorithms. There were no false acquisitions, no lost stars, and a significant reduction in reported position errors due to these improvements

To what extent can the theory of quantum mechanics help in understanding the mind-body problem?

It is widely accepted that consciousness at the start of the 20th century was considered mainly in the context of neurology and the mind-body problem belonged to the domain of neuroscience, psychology and philosophy, later broadened by behavioural science and cognitive science. However, these disciplines cannot completely explain the correlation between mental activity and matter. Chapter one starts by defining the difficulty of determining consciousness. A discussion of how philosophers (such as Descartes, Locke, Dennett and Nagel) attempted to describe this phenomenon leads to the conclusion that firstly, consciousness is indefinable and secondly, it continues to be a challenge for both – philosophy and science – to explain how subjective consciousness fits into the objective world. The following two parts of the chapter focus on the major philosophical theories of the mind-body problem. In chapter two there is a focus on the mutual relation between philosophy and science, physics in particular. However, this project deals more with the implications of science for the philosophy of mind and mind-body problem than the science itself. The second enquiry of this chapter is to point out the difference in philosophical and scientific understanding of the word ‘substance’ (crucial to the mind-body problem). Chapter three considers quantum theory, since the relation between mind and body started to be tackled from the completely new point of view, after the philosophers began to assimilate the implications of quantum physics. Firstly, there is a short introduction to quantum theory and the most significant points for philosophy and quantum mechanics issues are provided (such as quantum superposition, the measurement problem or the backward causation). Analysis of three prevailing theories is provided. This project addresses the contribution of quantum mechanics to the studies of consciousness and matter and examines whether it helps in solving the mind-body problem

Method and apparatus for acquisition and tracking of light sources in a transient event rich environment

A method and apparatus for tracking a light source in a transient event rich environment locks on to a light source incident on a field-of-view 1 of a charge-coupled-device (CCD) array 6, validates the permanence of said light source and transmits data relating to the brilliance and location of said light source if said light source is determined to be permanent

The verbal nature of worry in generalized anxiety: Insights from the brain

Background: The Cognitive Avoidance Theory of Worry argues that worry is a cognitive strategy adopted to control the physiological arousal associated with anxiety. According to this theory, pathological worry, as in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), is verbal in nature, negative and abstract, rather than concrete. Neuroimaging studies link the expression of worry to characteristic modes of brain functional connectivity, especially in relation to the amygdala. However, the distinctive features of worry (verbal, abstract, negative), and their relationship to physiological arousal, have not so far been mapped to brain function. Methods: We addressed this omission by undertaking a resting-state functional magnetic resonance neuroimaging study of 19 patients with GAD and 21 controls, before and after induction of perseverative cognitions, while measuring emotional bodily arousal from heart rate (HR). Seed-based analyses quantified brain changes in whole brain functional connectivity from the amygdala. Results: In GAD, the induction increased negative thoughts and their verbal content. In line with predictions, the verbal expression of worry in GAD was associated with higher HR at baseline and attenuated HR increases after induction of perseverative cognitions. Within brain, the increased use of words during worry, and the associated dampening of HR after induction were mediated by the strength of functional connectivity between the amygdala and default mode network ‘hubs’ and the opercular cortex. The negative content of worry was further related to functional communication between amygdala and cingulo-opercular and temporal cortices. Conclusions: Findings provide a neurobiological basis for the impact of verbal worry on HR in GAD

Bedo Case Final

This is a creative component for graduation. All financial information was made up and all names and information is fictional.</p

Q nekotorych woprosach tak. nazw. perekljuczenija kodow pri bilingwizmie i dwokodowosti

Based on theory of information, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, methodology of teaching languages, and neurophysiology, the author of the presentation touches upon a whole number of important topics related to code coupling with bilingualism and dual code performance. Beginning with the problem of the correctly and incorrectly expressed and appercepted speech through a brief analysis of the so-called foreign accent and its types to fundamental bilinguistic types of codes or systems, the author explains some partial and optimal cases of the so-called code coupling also as the sources of inteference and the so-called foreign accent or foreign prosodic feature in generating speech in a foreign language

Identification of novel starch and protein structures related to corn masa texture

Production of corn tortillas and tortilla chips first involves alkaline cooking of the kernels, followed by steeping and rinsing to yield smooth kernels known as nixtamal. Stone-milling the nixtamal generates the dough-like material known as mass, which is then sheeted and cut into the characteristic tortilla shapes. Masa should be adequately cohesive to resist breakage during rolling and sheeting, but not excessively adhesive so as to become sticky. The objective of this study was to identify specific chemical components within masa that are responsible for its cohesive/adhesive texture. Lime-concentration dependent complexation of proteins from heated lime:corn flour suspensions were observed using SDS-PAGE at concentrations above the saturation point of lime in solution. Another divalent ion-containing alkali, strontium hydroxide, produced a similar effect, while the effect of a monovalent ion-containing alkali was not as pronounced. Similar protein complexes were not readily apparent in masa. Gelatinized starch in nixtamal, estimated by β-amylase/pullulanase digestion, increased due to lime cooking from 11% to 16%. Intermediate pressure high-performance liquid chromatography (HPSEC) analysis of the water-soluble starch component from mass indicated that it increased in amount and molecular weight as cook time increased. This soluble fraction was similar to amylopectin with regard to λmax and isoamylase debranched profile, though of lower MW. It was termed “intermediate MW amylopectin-like component.” The amount of this component was highly correlated with masa adhesiveness (r = 0.890, P \u3c 0.01) and with cook time (r = 0.957, P \u3c 0.01). Amount of the intermediate MW amylopectin-like component was directly related to gap width of the stones in the masa mill and was concluded to be caused by amylopectin fragmentation due to shear force. Rapid detection of the intermediate MW amylopectin-like component can be achieved by using an iodine complexation assay. The results of this study strongly imply that the intermediate MW amylopectin-like component is the major determinant of masa texture and that its measurement can be used as a process control parameter

An examination of emotional processing and emotional expression in alexithymia using imagery

Affective deficits are the hallmark feature of alexithymia. Alexithymia has also been associated with decreased imaginative involvement, although little attention has been paid to the relationship between alexithymia and imagery ability, or to whether imagery deficits are specific to emotional material. This study examined alexithymics\u27 (n = 44) and non-alexithymics\u27 (n = 42) abilities to engage in emotional and non-emotional imagery after response-oriented imagery training (encouraging participants to focus on their behavioral and physiological responses during imagery). Alexithymics and non-alexithymics imagined emotional (anger, fear, joy) and non-emotional (action, non-arousing neutral) scenes while heart rate, skin conductance, and facial electromyography (smile and frown) were recorded. Participants completed 11 imagery trials, with each trial composed of a: 30s baseline period, a 50s read period during which they heard audiotaped imagery scripts and began to imagine the scene, a 30s image period, and an untimed ratings period in which they rated their imagery for valence, arousal, dominance, and vividness. The emotional content of the image affected responses on all physiological variables. Alexithymics, unlike non-alexithymics, failed to show differential heart rate responses between the emotional imagery and the non-arousing, neutral imagery. Similarly, for corrugator EMG, alexithymics, unlike non-alexithymics, failed to significantly differentiate between negative affective imagery and neutral imagery. Furthermore, alexithymics showed skin conductance and heart rate responding to the non-emotional, arousing action imagery suggesting that imagery deficits are specific to emotional material. Groups did not differ significantly in their self-reported ratings of emotional imagery. These findings support alexithymics deficits in emotional imagery processing and negative emotional expression