The Role of Consciousness in Memory

Conscious events interact with memory systems in learning, rehearsal and retrieval (Ebbinghaus 1885/1964; Tulving 1985). Here we present hypotheses that arise from the IDA computional model (Franklin, Kelemen and McCauley 1998; Franklin 2001b) of global workspace theory (Baars 1988, 2002). Our primary tool for this exploration is a flexible cognitive cycle employed by the IDA computational model and hypothesized to be a basic element of human cognitive processing. Since cognitive cycles are hypothesized to occur five to ten times a second and include interaction between conscious contents and several of the memory systems, they provide the means for an exceptionally fine-grained analysis of various cognitive tasks. We apply this tool to the small effect size of subliminal learning compared to supraliminal learning, to process dissociation, to implicit learning, to recognition vs. recall, and to the availability heuristic in recall. The IDA model elucidates the role of consciousness in the updating of perceptual memory, transient episodic memory, and procedural memory. In most cases, memory is hypothesized to interact with conscious events for its normal functioning. The methodology of the paper is unusual in that the hypotheses and explanations presented are derived from an empirically based, but broad and qualitative computational model of human cognition

A new generation of cyberinfrastructure and data services for earth system science education and research

International audienceA revolution is underway in the role played by cyberinfrastructure and modern data services in the conduct of research and education. We live in an era of an unprecedented data volume from diverse sources, multidisciplinary analysis and synthesis, and active, learner-centered education emphasis. Complex environmental problems such as global change and water cycle transcend disciplinary and geographic boundaries, and their solution requires integrated earth system science approaches. Contemporary education strategies recommend adopting an Earth system science approach for teaching the geosciences, employing pedagogical techniques such as enquiry-based learning. The resulting transformation in geoscience education and research creates new opportunities for advancement and poses many challenges. The success of the scientific enterprise depends heavily on the availability of a state-of-the-art, robust, and flexible cyberinfrastructure, and on the timely access to quality data, products, and tools to process, manage, analyze, integrate, publish, and visualize those data. Concomittantly, rapid advances in computing, communication, and information technologies have revolutionized the provision and use of data, tools and services. The profound consequences of Moore's Law and the explosive growth of the Internet are well known. On the other hand, how other technological trends have shaped the development of data services is less well understood. For example, the advent of digital libraries, web services, open standards and protocols have been important factors in shaping a new generation of cyberinfrastructure for solving key scientific and educational problems. This paper presents a broad overview of these issues, along with a survey of key information technology trends, and discuses how those trends are enabling new approaches to applying data services for solving geoscientific problems

Interaction of mixed mode loading on cyclic debonding in adhesively bonded composite joints

A combined experimental and analytical investigation of an adhesively-bonded composite joint was conducted to characterize the fracture mode dependence of cyclic debonding. The system studied consisted of graphite/epoxy adherends bonded with EC 3445 adhesive. Several types of specimens are tested which provide the cyclic debond growth rate measurements under various load conditions: mode 1, mixed mode 1 to 2, and mostly mode 2. This study shows that the total strain-energy-release rate is the governing factor for cyclic debonding

On an unusual swarming of the planktonic blue-green algae Trichodesmium Spp., off Mangalore

Instances of discoloured water phenomenon in the Indian waters have been reported earlier.This is caused by a variety of organisms such as blue-green algae, cystoflagellates and dinoflagellates, and is sometimes associated with adverse effects on the marine fauna including fish

Trichodesmium bloom and the failure of oil sardine fishery

The occurrence of Trichodesmium blooms off Mangalore from the lalter half of February to early March in 1968 and its adverse effect on the oil sardine fishery have been reported in this account. Some of the environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, oxygen content and wind velocity and direction associated with the blooming have also been discusse

An air jet distortion generation system

An air jet distortion generation system is developed to simulate the distorted flow field ahead of gas turbine engines in ground test facility. The flow field of a system of four jets arranged circumferentially and issuing into a confined counterflow was studied experimentally and numerically. The total pressure distortion parameters were evaluated at the Aerodynamic Interface Plane (AIP) for several values of mass flow ratios. Since the total pressure loss distribution at the AIP is characteristically “V” shaped, the number of jets was increased to obtain total pressure distributions as required for gas turbine engine testing. With this understanding, a methodology has been developed to generate a target total pressure distortion pattern at the AIP. Turbulent flow computations are used to iteratively progress towards the target distribution. This methodology was demonstrated for a distortion flow pattern typical of use in gas turbine engine testing using twenty jets, which is a smaller number than reported in the literature. The procedure converges with a root-mean-square error of 3.836% and is able to reproduce the target pattern and other distortion parameters

Fishery resources of Ullal (Mangalore) in relation to certain environmental factors during 1963-67

Ullal, an important fishing centre situated 3 Km south of Mangalore, was known for shark fishery in the past. However, owing to the decline in the shark fishery, fishing for sardine, mackerel etc has been resorted to bottom dwelling during the past two decades. While Mangalore is at present a landing centre for ground fishes of the mechanised boats, Ullal is of special significance, being the nearest fishing village where variout' types of indigenous gears are employed mainly for pelagic fishes. Yet, the fishery potentiality of this area has remained unknown

Optimal placement of Femto base stations in enterprise femtocell networks

Femto cells a.k.a. Low Power Nodes (LPNs) are deployed to improve indoor data rates as well as reduce traffic load on macro Base Stations (BSs) in 4G/LTE cellular networks. Indoor UEs getting high SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) can experience good throughput, but SNR decreases at faster rate due to obstacles, present along the communication path. Hence, efficient placement of Femtos in enterprise buildings is crucial to attain desirable SNR for indoor users. We consider obstacles and shadowing effects by walls and include them in the system model. We develop a Linear Programming Problem (LPP) model by converting convex constraints into linear ones and solve it using GAMS tool, to place Femtos optimally inside the building. Our extensive experimentation proves the optimal placement of Femtos achieves 14.41% and 35.95% increase in SNR of indoor UEs over random and center placement strategies, respectively