Linguistic intergroup bias: Differential expectancies or in-group protection?

The linguistic intergroup bias describes the tendency to communicate positive in-group and negative out-group behaviors more abstractly than negative in-group and positive out-group behaviors. This article investigated whether this bias is driven by differential expectancies or by in-group protective motives. In Exp 1, northern and southern Italian participants (N?=?151) described positive and negative behaviors of northern or southern protagonists that were either congruent or incongruent with stereotypic expectancies. Regardless of valence, expectancy-congruent behaviors were described more abstractly than incongruent ones. Exp 2 (N?=?40) showed that language is used in an equally biased fashion for individuals as previously demonstrated for groups. Exp 3 (N?=?192) induced expectancies experimentally and found greater abstraction for expectancy-congruent behaviors regardless of valence. All experiments confirmed the differential expectancy approach. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A study on electrical and thermal conductivities of ethylene–octene copolymer/expandable graphite composites

A series of ethylene–octene copolymer (EOC) composites have been prepared by melt‐mixing with different weight ratios of expandable graphite filler (0–50% by weight). Electrical conductivity [both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC)] and thermal conductivity studies were carried out. Effect of filler loading and frequency on electrical conductivity was studied. DC conductivity has increased from 1.51 × 10^?13 S cm^?1 to 1.17 × 10^?1 S cm^?1. Percolation threshold by DC and also AC methods was observed at about 16 vol% of the filler. Real part of permittivity was found to be decreasing with increase in frequency while conductivity was increasing. Thermal conductivity was also found to be increasing gradually from 0.196 to 0.676 Wm^?1 K^?1 which is about 245% increase. Graphite not only increases the electrical and thermal conductivities but at and above 40 wt%, also acts as a halogen‐free, environmental friendly flame retardant. Shore‐A hardness of EOC/graphite composites shows that even with high graphite loading, the hardness is increased from about 50–68 only so that the rubbery nature of the composite is not affected very much. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Above-ground carbon storage by urban trees in Leipzig, Germany: Analysis of patterns in a European city

Many aspects of global change, including carbon dioxide emissions, have been attributed to urban areas. On the other hand, cities have been found to provide valuable ecosystem services such as carbon storage. The aim of this study is to estimate the above-ground carbon storage in trees in the central European city of Leipzig and produce spatially explicit carbon storage maps. We used stratified random sampling across 19 land cover classes using 190 sample plots to measure carbon storage. In addition, we derived canopy cover from color-infrared orthophotos using an object-oriented approach and Random Forest machine learning. Finally, we apply an error assessment method that includes sampling error, but also uncertainty stemming from allometric equations, and that so far has only been applied to rural forests. The total above ground carbon stock of Leipzig was estimated using both land cover and canopy cover, which was more laborious than just using land cover but reduced the standard error. Canopy cover was approximately 19% of the city area. Leipzig's above-ground carbon storage was estimated to be 316,000 Mg C at 11 Mg C ha⁻¹. The distribution of carbon storage across the city showed the highest values at intermediate urbanization levels. Carbon storage in the city of Leipzig was in the lower range compared to cities in Europe, Asia and the USA, and our results indicate that great care should be taken when transferring values between cities. We provide spatially explicit and detailed maps of above-ground storage that can contribute to ecosystem services assessments.     

50-nm local anodic oxidation technology of semiconductor heterostructures

A novel approach to local anodic oxidation technique, which leads to approximately equal 50 nm wide line patterns, is described. The technique is utilized to prepare quantum point contact on a low-mobility semiconductor heterostructure. Transport measurements show quantized conductance in zero magnetic field at 4.2 K thanks to very short one-dimensional constriction. The technique is also used for the definition of low-to-room temperature sub-micrometer Hall probes to show its applicability for the room temperature applications. The magnetic-field resolution and the sensitivity of the probes are evaluated in dependence of the probe dimensions, bias current, and temperature. The 200-nm probe shows magnetic-field resolution of 47 microT/(Hz)(1/2) at 140 Hz and at 4.2 K, when it is driven by 5 microA bias current. The novel approach is promising for the development of the future nano-devices operated both at low and room temperatures. To our knowledge, local anodic oxidation technique applied directly to shallow semiconductor heterostructure has been successfully used for the room temperature application for the first time.     

Learning mode and exemplar sequencing in unsupervised category learning.

Exemplar sequencing effects in incidental and intentional unsupervised category learning were investigated to illuminate how people form categories without an external teacher. Stimuli were perfectly separable into 2 categories based on 1 of 2 dimensions of variation. Sequencing of the first 20 training stimuli was manipulated. In the blocked condition, 10 Category A stimuli were followed by 10 Category B stimuli. In the intermixed condition, these 20 stimuli were ordered randomly. Experiment 1 revealed an interaction between learning mode and sequence, with better intentional learning for intermixed sequences but better incidental learning for blocked sequences. Experiment 2 showed that manipulating trial-to-trial variability along each dimension can impact intentional learning. Training sequences that emphasized variation along the category-relevant dimension resulted in better performance than sequences that emphasized variation along the category-irrelevant dimension. The results suggest that unsupervised category learning is influenced by the mode of learning and the order and nature of encountered exemplars. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MUG Mel3 Cell Lines Reflect Heterogeneity in Melanoma and Represent a Robust Model for Melanoma in Pregnancy

Melanomas are aggressive tumors with a high metastatic potential and an increasing incidence rate. They are known for their heterogeneity and propensity to easily develop therapy-resistance. Nowadays they are one of the most common cancers diagnosed during pregnancy. Due to the difficulty in balancing maternal needs and foetal safety, melanoma is challenging to treat. The aim of this study was to provide a potential model system for the study of melanoma in pregnancy and to illustrate melanoma heterogeneity. For this purpose, a pigmented and a non-pigmented section of a lymph node metastasis from a pregnant patient were cultured under different conditions and characterized in detail. All four culture conditions exhibited different phenotypic, genotypic as well as tumorigenic properties, and resulted in four newly established melanoma cell lines. To address treatment issues, especially in pregnant patients, the effect of synthetic human lactoferricin-derived peptides was tested successfully. These new BRAF-mutated MUG Mel3 cell lines represent a valuable model in melanoma heterogeneity and melanoma pregnancy research. Furthermore, treatment with anti-tumor peptides offers an alternative to conventionally used therapeutic options—especially during pregnancy.     

Oxidation of Acceptor‐substituted Isothiazolium‐2‐imines to Stable Cyclic Sulfin‐ and Sulfonamides with 3‐Hydroperoxy Function

The oxidation of isothiazolium 2‐imines 3,5 and their salts 4 to stable 3‐hydroperoxy‐2,3,4,5,6,7‐hexahydro‐1,2‐benzisothiazole 1‐oxides 7 and 1,1‐dioxides 8 and 9 as a new class of cyclic sultims and sultams is described. The formation of 3‐hydroxysultams 10 and isothiazol‐3(2H)one 1,1‐dioxides 11 is presented.     

Determination of phytic acid in feeds and faeces of pigs and poultry by capillary isotachophoresis

A method for phytic acid determination in the feeds and faeces of pigs and poultry has been developed on the basis of capillary isotachophoresis. Phytic acid was extracted by 0.95 M HCl and separated from interfering compounds by iron precipitation. Complete formation of ferric phytate required 7 mol FeCl₃ mol⁻¹ phytic acid. Residual Fe³⁺ was estimated colorimetrically by the tiron reagent, and ferric phytate was dissolved in 1.5 M NaOH at 9 mol NaOH mol⁻¹ Fe precipitated. Analyses were carried out using an electrolyte system with Cl⁻ as the leading anion, bis‐tris‐propane, and 2‐morpholinoethanesulphonic acid as the terminating anion. The recovery of phytic acid (added to hen faeces) using this procedure was 962 ± 24 g kg⁻¹. The limit of determination of phytic acid was 0.3 µmol ml⁻¹ extract. The amount of phytic acid in feeds ranged from 8.3 to 10.8 g kg⁻¹ on a dry matter basis. Phytic acid P represented 112 g kg⁻¹ total P in faeces of young pigs (40–60 kg) fed a feed with supplemental phytase (490 U kg⁻¹), 153 g kg⁻¹ total P in faeces of finishing pigs and 185 g kg⁻¹ total P in faeces of non‐lactating sows. Excreta of laying hens contained 23.7 g phytic acid kg⁻¹ dry matter (362 g kg⁻¹ total P). The isotachophoretic method is sufficiently simple and reproducible to be used for routine analyses of feeds and faeces. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Replacement of Highly Conserved E222 by the Photostable Non‐photoconvertible Histidine in GFP

The widely used green fluorescent protein (GFP) decarboxylates upon irradiation; this involves removal of the acidic function of the glutamic acid at position 222, thereby resulting in the irreversible photoconversion of GFP. To suppress this phenomenon, the photostable, non‐photoconvertible histidine was introduced at position 222 in GFP. The variant E222H shows negligible photodynamic processes and high expression yield. In addition, the stable and bright fluorescence over a wide pH range makes the E222H protein an alternative for GFP in fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy. Other fluorescent proteins are predicted to benefit from replacement of the catalytic glutamic acid by histidine.     

New Approach for Estimating the Deflection of Beams Reinforced with FRP Reinforcement

Due to concerns with corrosion, the use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) as a replacement to conventional steel reinforcement has greatly increased over the last decade. Researchers have identified the distinctive mechanical and bond properties of FRP reinforcement that prevent the use of existing relationships to establish serviceability of concrete structures reinforced with such products. Although studies have modified these empirical relationships to describe the behavior of structures reinforced with FRP reinforcement, this paper will provide a new approach to estimate deflection of concrete beams by considering material properties of the reinforcement and incorporating the effects of tension stiffening. Accuracy and precision of the approach was established by performing a statistical analysis on a database containing 171 FRP-reinforced concrete beams. Results were compared to those from existing proposed relationships and indicate the potential of the method to estimate deflection at various service conditions.