Taking the theorizing in personality theories seriously: Comment.

Comments on "A tale of two visions: Can a new view of personality help integrate psychology?" by J. D. Mayer (see record 2005-05480-001). Mayer's attempt to find ways to use personality emphases as integrative tendencies in psychology is welcome. Certainly, it would help if the research and practice efforts of psychologists were coordinated more clearly than they are now. The comment author finds Mayer's rather ambiguous and scattered suggestions to be disconcerting. The comment author proposes alternatives he hopes will further Mayer's goals. He believes that emphasizing core, developmental, and peripheral statements is important in envisioning the personality system. The comment author does not agree with Mayer's (2005) assertion that emphasizing existing personality theories is necessarily damaging because of their specific content disagreements. There are, of course, many personality theories, but their diversity can be reduced to a more manageable level by inducing from them the basic models of personality theorizing. When the comment author engages in this process, what emerges is the conflict, fulfillment, and consistency models, each with two subtypes. Psychologists need to collaborate with each other in formulating comparative analytic research that can resolve the fundamental issues arising from the differences between these three models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MAGDA: A Mobile Agent based Grid Architecture

Mobile agents mean both a technology and a programming paradigm. They allow for a flexible approach which can alleviate a number of issues present in distributed and Grid-based systems, by means of features such as migration, cloning, messaging and other provided mechanisms. In this paper we describe an architecture (MAGDA – Mobile Agent based Grid Architecture) we have designed and we are currently developing to support programming and execution of mobile agent based application upon Grid systems.     

Synthesis and Thermal Characterization of Some Novel ABA Block Copolymers

The synthesis of some novel ABA block copolymers is reported. The block A is a PPO while the block B is a random copoly(aryl ether sulfone), synthesized with three different molecular weights. The block copolymers were obtained by a two step procedure consisting on the functionalization of the random copoly(aryl ether sulfone) followed by a condensation with PPO. Spectroscopic techniques (¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR) were used to characterize the polymers obtained from each step. The NMR data proved the complete conversion of amino groups after the first reaction step and gave some useful insights on the completion of the second step. Copolymer formation is supported by a comparison of the thermal behavior of the block copolymers with respect to the physical blends of the two homopolymers. DSC and DMA analyses showed double glass transitions for the physical blends which could be related to the immiscibility of the two homopolymers, while, in contrast, the block copolymer showed single glass transition. Blends of ABA triblock copolymer/PPO and of ABA triblock/copoly(arylen ether sulfone)s were also prepared. These blends, tested by DSC, showed a good level of compatibility of the ABA copolymer with its singular constituents.

     

Microfluidic rheology of non-Newtonian liquids

We investigate the rheological properties of a non-Newtonian glass-former liquid within lithographically defined microchannels in the range of temperatures above the vitrification region. The non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid, as evidenced by rotational rheology, is well described by a power law dependence of the viscosity on the shear rate. Taking into account such non-Newtonian character in the equations for the microfluidic motion, we relate the penetration dynamics into capillaries with the liquid rheological properties. The temperature dependence of the viscosity, determined over 1 order of magnitude in the temperature range 286-333 K and for shear rates between 0.07 and 1 s-1, can be described by a Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman law, consistent with the fragile nature of the investigated compound. Microfluidics is a promising analytical approach for the investigation of the rheology of non-Newtonian fluids within confined microenvironments.     

Identification of Structural Features of 2‐Alkylidene‐1,3‐Dicarbonyl Derivatives that Induce Inhibition and/or Activation of Histone Acetyltransferases KAT3B/p300 and KAT2B/PCAF

Dysregulation of the activity of lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) is related to a variety of diseases and/or pathological cellular states; however, their role remains unclear. Therefore, the development of selective modulators of these enzymes is of paramount importance, because these molecules could be invaluable tools for assessing the importance of KATs in several pathologies. We recently found that diethyl pentadecylidenemalonate (SPV106) possesses a previously unobserved inhibitor/activator activity profile against protein acetyltransferases. Herein, we report that manipulation of the carbonyl functions of a series of analogues of SPV106 yielded different activity profiles against KAT2B and KAT3B (pure KAT2B activator, pan‐inhibitor, or mixed KAT2B activator/KAT3B inhibitor). Among the novel compounds, a few derivatives may be useful chemical tools for studying the mechanism of lysine acetylation and its implications in physiological and/or pathological processes.     

Ameliorative Effects of PACAP against Cartilage Degeneration. Morphological,Immunohistochemical and Biochemical Evidence from in Vivo and in Vitro Models of Rat Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA); the most common form of degenerative joint disease, is associated with variations in pro-inflammatory growth factor levels, inflammation and hypocellularity resulting from chondrocyte apoptosis. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide endowed with a range of trophic effects in several cell types; including chondrocytes. However; its role in OA has not been studied. To address this issue, we investigated whether PACAP expression is affected in OA cartilage obtained from experimentally-induced OA rat models, and then studied the effects of PACAP in isolated chondrocytes exposed to IL-1β in vitro to mimic the inflammatory milieu of OA cartilage. OA induction was established by histomorphometric and histochemical analyses. Changes in PACAP distribution in cartilage, or its concentration in synovial fluid (SF), were assessed by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Results showed that PACAP abundance in cartilage tissue and SF was high in healthy controls. OA induction decreased PACAP levels both in affected cartilage and SF. In vitro, PACAP prevented IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis, as determined by MTT assay; Hoechst staining and western blots of apoptotic-related proteins. These changes were also accompanied by decreased i-NOS and COX-2 levels, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect. Altogether, these findings support a potential role for PACAP as a chondroprotective agent for the treatment of OA.     

Ultra‐low‐noise large‐bandwidth transimpedance amplifier

Equivalent input current noise and bandwidth are the most relevant parameters qualifying a low‐noise transimpedance amplifier. In the conventional topology consisting of an operational amplifier in a shunt‐shunt configuration, the equivalent input noise decreases as the feedback resistor (R_F), which also sets the gain, increases. Unfortunately, as R_F increases above a few MΩ, as it is required for obtaining high sensitivity, the bandwidth of the system is set by the parasitic capacitance of R_F and reduces as R_F increases. In this paper, we propose a new topology that allows overcoming this limitation by employing a large‐bandwidth voltage amplifier together with a proper modified feedback network for compensating the effect of the parasitic capacitance of the feedback resistance. We experimentally demonstrate, on a prototype circuit, that the proposed approach allows to obtain a bandwidth in excess of 100 kHz and an equivalent input noise of about 4 fA/ , corresponding to the current noise of the 1 GΩ resistor that is part of the feedback network. The new approach allows obtaining larger bandwidth with respect to those obtained in previously proposed configurations with comparable background noise. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Smart Lighting System for Visual Comfort and Energy Savings in Industrial and Domestic Use

The goal of this work is to develop a smart light-emitting diode lighting system for industrial and domestic use with several advantages over conventional systems, namely energy saving, high reliability, and visual comfort of interior lighting. This is achieved by integrating a smart control module and a fault diagnosis and prognosis module within a conventional lighting system. The first module controls the lighting level in an energy-efficient way, keeping a desired light level where it is needed while regulating it to a minimum where not required; this is achieved by fully exploiting fuzzy logic and proportional-integrative-derivative controllers. The second module performs fault diagnosis on the light-emitting diode system and predicts when light-emitting diode maintenance should be performed; this is achieved by employing both hardware redundancy and signal-based approaches. Interaction between the two modules permits maintenance of a desired level of light even in the case of failures on one or more light-emitting diodes. The overall system has been experimentally validated in three different scenarios.     

Thermoplastic composites based on poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) and basalt woven fabrics: Static and dynamic mechanical properties

Composites based on poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate) and basalt woven fabrics have been investigated with the aim to develop composites with a minimum service temperature of 100°C. Laminates have been manufactured by using the film‐stacking technique. A very low void content and a good fabric impregnation has been obtained as confirmed by the morphological analysis performed with scanning electron microscopy. Static flexural modulus and strength have been measured at 20, 60, and 100°C and compared with the dynamic mechanical behavior, evaluated from −100 to 220°C. A very good agreement has been detected between static and dynamic tests, proving that the dynamic mechanical analysis can be used to estimate the flexural modulus in a wide temperature range. Poly(ethylene 2,6‐naphthalate)/basalt composites have exhibited (at 20°C) a flexural modulus and strength as high as 20 GPa and 320 MPa, respectively. The flexural modulus and the flexural strength at 100°C have been found to be equal to 18 GPa and 230 MPa, confirming that this system can retain very good mechanical properties at a service temperature of 100°C. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2549–2556, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers