An amorphous model for morphological processing in visual comprehension based on naive discriminative learning.

A 2-layer symbolic network model based on the equilibrium equations of the Rescorla–Wagner model (Danks, 2003) is proposed. The study first presents 2 experiments in Serbian, which reveal for sentential reading the inflectional paradigmatic effects previously observed by Milin, Filipovi? ?ur?evi?, and Moscoso del Prado Martín (2009) for unprimed lexical decision. The empirical results are successfully modeled without having to assume separate representations for inflections or data structures such as inflectional paradigms. In the next step, the same naive discriminative learning approach is pitted against a wide range of effects documented in the morphological processing literature. Frequency effects for complex words as well as for phrases (Arnon & Snider, 2010) emerge in the model without the presence of whole-word or whole-phrase representations. Family size effects (Moscoso del Prado Martín, Bertram, H?iki?, Schreuder, & Baayen, 2004; Schreuder & Baayen, 1997) emerge in the simulations across simple words, derived words, and compounds, without derived words or compounds being represented as such. It is shown that for pseudo-derived words no special morpho-orthographic segmentation mechanism, as posited by Rastle, Davis, and New (2004), is required. The model also replicates the finding of Plag and Baayen (2009) that, on average, words with more productive affixes elicit longer response latencies; at the same time, it predicts that productive affixes afford faster response latencies for new words. English phrasal paradigmatic effects modulating isolated word reading are reported and modeled, showing that the paradigmatic effects characterizing Serbian case inflection have crosslinguistic scope. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Daily dietary manganese intake in Belgium, using duplicate portion sampling

Daily dietary manganese intake in Belgium was evaluated by duplicate portion sampling, destruction by cooking in a microwave oven and subsequent analysis for this element by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean intake value (3.1 +/- 1.1 mg/day) is similar to levels found for most other countries and is within WHO/RDA and National Research Council, USA recommended intake ranges.     

Measurement of the daily dietary calcium and magnesium intake in Belgium, using duplicate portion sampling

The daily dietary calcium and magnesium intakes in Belgium were evaluated by sampling duplicate portions of food, destruction in a microwave oven and their calcium and magnesium contents determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The mean intake value for calcium (618±125 mg/day) was found to be less than those values measured in most other countries and was below the recommended daily allowance (RDA). The mean intake value for magnesium (271±44 mg/day) was similar to levels found in most other countries, but was below the RDA value for healthy adult men (350 mg/day) whilst being adequate for healthy women (280 mg/day).     

Pyrolysis and combustion of cellulose. II. Thermal analysis of mixtures of methyl α-D-glucopyranoside and levoglucosan with model phosphate flame retardants

The thermal degradation of methyl α-D -glucopyranoside, a cellulose model of intermediate complexity, was investigated in an attempt to gain insight into the pyrolytic reactions of analogous cellulose systems. The pure glucoside pyrolysis proceeds through formation of an intermediate of higher thermal stability. Nitrogenous bases bring about decomposition of the glucoside at lower temperatures and without formation of a detectable intermediate. Phenyl phosphates and phosphoramides induce thermal degradation of methyl α-D -glucopyranoside at lower temperatures than observed for the pure glucoside. The postulated degradation mechanism involves esterification of the glucoside followed by dehydration and skeletal rearrangements. Nitrogenous bases assist the dehydration process but reduce the yield of residue and bound phosphorus. Levoglucosan, the cellulose degradation product responsible for flaming combustion, was pyrolyzed in the presence of model flame retardants. Nitrogenous bases were found to inhibit thermal polymerization of levoglucosan and to induce its decomposition at lower temperatures. Zinc chloride exerted its effects in two stages: acid-catalyzed polymerization at lower temperatures and dehydration at higher temperatures. Phenyl phosphates and phosphoramides alter levoglucosan pyrolysis by action as Lewis acids in a manner similar to zinc chloride.     

Effect of nicotinic acid on cholera-induced fluid movement and unidirectional sodium fluxes in rabbit jejunum

Cholera toxin produces intestinal secretion and elevation of intestinal cyclic AMP. Nicotinic acid has been shown to prevent these responses. The effect of nicotinic acid on cholera toxin-induced secretion could be caused by decreased plasma-to-lumen flux, increased lumen-to-plasma flux, or a combination of both. The purpose of this study was to define the effects of nicotinic acid on net fluid movement and unidirectional sodium fluxes in rabbit jejunal loops exposed to cholera toxin. In the untreated animals receiving no nicotinic acid, the cholera toxin-exposed loops secreted 0.91 ml/cm/4h above the control loops receiving no cholera toxin (p < 0.01). On the other hand, pretreatment with 100 mg/kg nicotinic acid caused a striking decrease in secretion in the cholera toxin loop, so that the cholera toxin loop was not significantly different from the control loop. Unidirectional sodium fluxes in untreated animals showed that cholera toxin caused an increase in the plasma-to-lumen flux and a decrease in the lumen-to-plasma flux. Both effects were abolished by pretreating the animals with nicotinic acid. These studies indicate that nicotinic acid prevents cholera toxin-induced secretion by restoring the unidirectional fluxes to control levels.     

Increased expression of the NF2 tumor suppressor gene product, merlin, impairs cell motility, adhesionand spreading

To demonstrate regional activation in the rat cerebral cortex related to stress-evoked neuroendocrine response, Fos expression in both the cerebral cortex and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was immunohistochemically examined in two experimental groups; a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneally injected group for inflammatory stress and a restraint group for emotional stress. The LPS injection (100 microg/100 g b.w.) and restraint (for 30 min) had similar effect on Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in PVN with regard to the number of immunoreactive nuclei and their distribution pattern, while the times to maximize Fos-LI were different. Numerical analysis of cortical Fos-LI in untreated rats showed a distinct region-specific pattern. Statistical analysis revealed no significant increase in Fos-LI density in any cortical regions in the LPS group, but restraint resulted in a dramatic and region-specific increase. A significant increase was detected in the prefrontal cortex (the cingulate, orbital and agranular insular cortex), the frontal area 2, the agranular retrosplenial cortex, the parietal cortex, and the medial and lateral occipital area 2. These results indicate that cortical activation relevant to specific functions may be involved in stress-specific neural circuitry.     

On-Line Control and Optimisation of the Pelleting Process of Animal Feed

A method is presented for the generation of advice for the on-line control of the pelleting process of animal feed. The method is based on the idea that some of the process variables can be considered constant during the pelleting of one batch. We use data of batches being produced under more or less the same processing conditions to construct equations for the output of the process. These equations are used to define a linear programming problem. The objective of this programme is to maximise the productivity while maintaining acceptable pellet quality. Its solution represents advice for the on-line control of the batch. A series of 20 test runs shows that implementation of the method results in a considerable increase in productivity and decrease in the use of energy. We use information on the first part of the run to improve the equations of the output. The test runs show this second iterated advice results in an even higher increase in productivity, while the decrease in the use of energy stabilises. © 1997 SCI.     

SRNF membranes for edible oil purification: Introducing free amines in crosslinked PEEK to increase membrane hydrophilicity

PEEK membranes with good stability in polar aprotic solvents are developed for the separation of edible oils from acetone. PEEK membranes are hydrophobic in nature, and thus suitable to achieve high fluxes in organic solvents. Chemical crosslinking with amines provides the membranes with robust solvent stability. In this research, three types of modified PEEK were synthesized. All were crosslinked with both the well-known difunctional crosslinker hexanediamine as with the multifunctional polyallylamine. Performance of membranes prepared with both crosslinkers was compared for rose Bengal solutions in isopropanol and acetone, and for sunflower oil dissolved in acetone. Using polyallylamine as a crosslinker introduced free amines into the membrane structure, increasing the hydrophilicity of the membrane which improved the retention of edible oil significantly.     

Densification of oxide superconductors by hot isostatic pressing

Currently, consolidation of high Tc superconductor powders is done by sintering, which is not effective in the reduction of porosity. This work assesses the feasibility of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) to obtain fully dense bulk superconductor using HIP modeling and experimental verification. It is concluded that fully dense YBa₂Cu₃O₇ can be obtained in reasonable times at temperatures down to around 650 °C. The trade-offs between temperature, time, and pressure are examined as well as the effects of powder particle size, powder grain size, and trapped gas pressure. The model has. been verified by experiment under three conditions: 100 MPa HIP at 900 °C for 2 hours, 100 MPa HIP at 750 °C for 2 hours, and sintering at 950 °C for 16 hours. The additional advantages of HIPing oxide superconductors are also discussed.     

Preparation of bonded porcelain inlays and onlays using a milling-coping system

The Celay-system offers an interesting alternative to existing systems for esthetic posterior restorations with ceramics. The basic idea of the concept is to prepare, either directly on the patient or indirectly on a plaster model, a pro-inlay using a light-curable precision material. The modelling also covers the occlusal surface. This pro-inlay is then used with the help of a milling center to machine a precise replica out of a ceramic block. The copying process is carried out via three-dimensional mechanical scanning and milling using eight axes of freedom. In this way additional corrections on the ceramic within the mouth can almost completely be avoided. The system is designed to be used as a direct chairside method by the dentist or as an indirect method by the dental technician. It is a promising but unproved restoration, more research and long-term clinical evaluation is recommended.