Gaze direction modulates the disengagement of attention from facial expression in 10-month-olds.

This study investigated whether the disengagement of attention from facial expression is modulated by gaze direction in infants. To this end, we measured the saccadic reaction time required for the 10-month-olds to disengage their attention from angry and happy expressions combined with either straight or averted gaze. The 10-month-olds' disengagement of their attention from happy faces was modulated by gaze direction. This finding indicates that gaze direction strongly influences infants' allocation of attention to facial expressions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

一种基于改进超弹性Zener模型的高阻尼橡胶隔震支座速度相关性本构模型

目前高阻尼橡胶隔震支座已在土木工程中得到广泛应用,但由于高阻尼橡胶隔震支座的材料组成成分比较复杂,特别是大量阻尼材料的采用导致支座的应力应变关系与其加载速度相关,而目前的支座本构模型很难精确地模拟这种力学特性。因此该文从高阻尼支座的橡胶材料特性出发,提出了一个基于改进超弹性Zener模型的高阻尼支座本构模型,该模型由两个超弹性弹簧和一个非线性阻尼器单元组成,能够精确表达高阻尼支座的速度相关性。在模型中,对超弹性弹簧建立新的应变能函数,并通过附加刚度系数α来模拟高阻尼橡胶材料的初始刚度。通过高阻尼橡胶材料的多步松弛试验和在不同速度下的循环剪切试验来识别模型中的参数。通过支座试验验证了提出的模型,运用基于速度控制的实时子结构试验系统分析了某隔震桥梁在地震作用下的动力反应,并基于试验结果对该文提出的本构模型在隔震结构非线性分析中的准确性进行了验证。     

Synthesis of New Superconducting Pb-Based 1222 Cuprates Containing Sulfur in the (Pb0.75S0.25)Sr2(Eu2.0−x Ce x )Cu2O z System

We have synthesized new Pb-based 1222 cuprates containing sulfur in the (Pb_0.75S_0.25)Sr₂(Eu_2.0?x Ce _x )Cu₂O _z system. X-ray diffraction study shows that almost the single 1222 phase samples can be obtained for a considerable wide area of 0.3≤x≤1.2 in the composition of (Pb_0.75S_0.25)Sr₂(Eu_2.0?x Ce _x )Cu₂O _z . Next, the sample with x=0.4 after annealing under high-pressure O₂ is discovered to show an onset of the resistivity drop at about 31 K and to show an onset of diamagnetic signal at about 29 K. These phenomena clearly indicate that the sample is a new superconductor.     

Development of a grout database for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has developed a grout database (GDB) comprising the latest technical data of grout materials relevant to the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Currently, only newly developed grout materials of low pH cements, superfine spherical silica and colloidal silica, which are expected to provide a target pH ≤ 11 leachate, are included in the GDB. Case examples from on-site works and laboratory-based tests that have been published in the literature have been used to add construction and material details to the GDB. The GDB is available online (https://groutdb.jaea.go.jp/grout/ [in Japanese]) for registered users to obtain and provide data of grout technology. Furthermore, the GDB can be used to correlate requirements of mechanical, physical, and/or chemical properties of a grout material to specifically address concerns over safety assessment, material and injection method development, and/or prediction of grout penetration.     

Enabling Electrocatalytic Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis from Carbon Dioxide Over Copper-based Electrodes

We report on the discovery that paraffins and olefins up to C₆ hydrocarbons can be obtained in CO₂ electroreduction at room temperature and atmospheric pressure by application of a commercially available Cu-electrode (Eurofysica), provided pretreatment by electropolishing is avoided. The product distribution follows the Schultz–Flory distribution and, depending on the applied potential, the chain growth probability (α) ranges from 0.23 to 0.31, values lower than those obtained in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over heterogeneous Co- or Fe-based catalysts.     

Surface potential measurement of organic photo-diode consisting of fullerene/copper phthalocyanine double layered device

We investigated the surface potential built across the electrode/fullerene (C₆₀) or copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) interface and C₆₀/CuPc interface as a function of the thickness of the semiconductor film in the dark condition and under illumination. The surface potential of C₆₀ on Au, Al and Mg changes negatively with the increment of film thickness and it saturates at − 0.25, − 1.0 and − 1.5 V within 20 nm. The Fermi level alignment at C₆₀/electrode interface is established within ∼ 20 nm from electrode, and very high electric field exists due to the displacement of negative electronic charges from electrode into C₆₀. On the other hand, the surface potential of CuPc on ITO changes to + 0.1 V, and the work functions of C₆₀ and CuPc were estimated as 5.0 eV and 4.7 eV. C₆₀ film also accepts electrons from CuPc at hetero-junction interface, and the Fermi-level alignment was again obtained at C₆₀/CuPc interface under illumination. The built-in potential of ca. 0.3 V formed at C₆₀/CuPc interface was considered as the origin of the reduction of open-circuit voltage in ITO/CuPc/C₆₀/Au device compared with the optimum value of 0.6 V. On the other hand, the very high electric field formed at C₆₀/Mg contact improved the photovoltaic properties.     

Accumulative gene integration into a pre-determined site using Cre/loxP

Site-specific gene recombination systems, such as Cre/loxP, have been used for genetic modification of cells and organisms in both basic and applied research. We previously developed an accumulative gene integration system (AGIS), in which target gene cassettes could be repeatedly integrated into a pre-determined site on a plasmid or cellular genome by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE), using Cre and mutated loxPs. In the present study, we designed a simplified AGIS. For gene integration into a target site, the previous system used two loxP sites in the acceptor DNA, whereas the new system uses a single loxP site. The gene integration reactions were repeated four times in vitro using Cre protein and specific plasmids. The expected integration reactions mediated by Cre occurred at the loxP sites, resulting in integration of four target genes. The system was also used for genomic integration of reporter genes using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The reporter genes were efficiently introduced into the CHO genome in a Cre-dependent manner, and transgene expression was detected after the integration reaction. The expression levels of the reporter genes were enhanced, corresponding to the increase of transgene copy number. Recombinase-mediated AGIS provides a useful tool for the modification of cellular genomes.     

Defining the nanostructured morphology of triblock copolymers using resonant soft X-ray scattering

The morphologies of a poly(1,4-isoprene)-block-polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (IS2VP) copolymer were investigated using resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSoXS) together with scanning force microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy. Differences in the nanoscopic morphologies in the bulk and thin film samples were observed arising from the competition between segmental interactions between the blocks and the substrate and the surface energies of each block. Using soft X-rays at selected photon energies to isolate the scattering contribution from different polymer blocks, RSoXS unambiguously defined the complex morphology of the triblock copolymer. In the bulk sample, two nested, hexagonal arrays of P2VP and PI cylindrical microdomains residing in the PS matrix were observed. The cylindrical microdomains of one component were found to be located at the interstitial sites of the hexagonal array of the other component that has the larger d spacing. In solvent-annealed thin films with 40 nm in thickness, a hexagonal array of core-shell microdomains of P2VP cores with PS shells that reside in a PI matrix were observed.