Do readers obtain preview benefit from word n + 2? A test of serial attention shift versus distributed lexical processing models of eye movement control in reading.

Two experiments tested predictions derived from serial lexical processing and parallel distributed models of eye movement control in reading. The boundary paradigm (K. Rayner, 1975) was used, and the boundary location was set either at the end of word n - 1 (the word just to the left of the target word) or at the end of word n - 2. Serial lexical processing models predict that there should be preview benefit only when the boundary is set at word n - 1 (when the target word will be the next word fixated) and no preview benefit when the boundary is set at word n - 2. Parallel lexical models, on the other hand, predict that there should be some preview benefit in both situations. Consistent with the predictions of the serial lexical processing models, there was no preview benefit for a target word when the boundary was set at the end of word n - 2. Furthermore, there was no evidence of parafoveal-on-foveal effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is there any decline in the frequency of perforative appendicitis? (AUTHOR'S TRANSL)

The authors are concluding the letality of appendicitis displays a steadily declining tendency. The rate of perforations observed at their institution corresponds to the average in international surgical literature. They found that letality statistics of appendicitis improved considerably during the last century, whilst perforation percentage has remained practically the same, though the conditions in public health care and possibilities of hospitalization have considerably improved. They expect the number of perforations to decline by establishing the diagnosis even more consistently stage and by performing operations at an early stage, as well.     

Dimethyl Trisulfide Diminishes Traumatic Neuropathic Pain Acting on TRPA1 Receptors in Mice

Pharmacotherapy of neuropathic pain is still challenging. Our earlier work indicated an analgesic effect of dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), which was mediated by somatostatin released from nociceptor nerve endings acting on SST₄ receptors. Somatostatin release occurred due to TRPA1 ion channel activation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of DMTS in neuropathic pain evoked by partial ligation of the sciatic nerve in mice. Expression of the mRNA of Trpa1 in murine dorsal-root-ganglion neurons was detected by RNAscope. Involvement of TRPA1 ion channels and SST₄ receptors was tested with gene-deleted animals. Macrophage activity at the site of the nerve lesion was determined by lucigenin bioluminescence. Density and activation of microglia in the spinal cord dorsal horn was verified by immunohistochemistry and image analysis. Trpa1 mRNA is expressed in peptidergic and non-peptidergic neurons in the dorsal root ganglion. DMTS ameliorated neuropathic pain in Trpa1 and Sstr4 WT mice, but not in KO ones. DMTS had no effect on macrophage activity around the damaged nerve. Microglial density in the dorsal horn was reduced by DMTS independently from TRPA1. No effect on microglial activation was detected. DMTS might offer a novel therapeutic opportunity in the complementary treatment of neuropathic pain.     

Role of pH-regulation in lactic acid fermentation: Second steps in a process improvement

Lactic acid has versatile application in chemical industries and it can be economically produced from biomass resources, for example from sweet sorghum juice, containing easily fermentable sugars in high concentration (150-180 gL⁻¹). To neutralize the produced lactic acid, alkali addition (i.e., titration) or pH buffering was applied to avoid the inhibitory effect of the undissociated lactic acid. However, such a high concentration of ionized lactate also inhibits the growth and further production. Our task was to find an appropriate pH regulation method and to describe pH dependency of the used strain. Five pH regulation agents were tested and among them trimethylamine gave the best productivity result (3.13 gL⁻¹ h⁻¹), but considering technological aspects (such as dilution) ammonium hydroxide is also recommended. Titration by NH₄OH and buffering by CaCO₃ were compared, and then combined, resulted in very good productivity (3.55 gL⁻¹ h⁻¹). pH dependence of the used strain was also examined and the optimal pH value was between 6.8 and 7.0.     

Impact of soil particle size and bioaccessibility on children and adult lead exposure in peri-urban contaminated soils

The impact of soil particle size and bioaccessibility on children and adult lead (Pb) exposure via the incidental soil ingestion pathway was assessed in 16 peri-urban contaminated soils. A comparison of Pb distribution across 4 particle size fractions (<50 μm, <100 μm, <250 μm and <2 mm) found increasing Pb concentrations associated with decreasing particle size fractions. Lead enrichment in the <50 μm particle size fraction was up to 5 times the concentration observed in the bulk soil. When gastric phase Pb bioaccessibility was determined in the <50, <100 and <250 μm particle size fractions using the SBRC assay, Pb bioaccessibility also increased with decreasing particle size fraction for 6 of the 16 soils tested. Assessment of children and adult Pb exposure indicated that particle size and bioaccessibility had a significant influence on the contribution of incidental soil ingestion to daily Pb intake values. Although the <250 μm particle size fraction is recommended for incidental soil ingestion calculations, using this fraction has the potential to underestimate Pb exposure due to the preferential adhesion of smaller particles to hands with elevated Pb concentrations.     

Highly loaded UV curable nanosilica dispersions for rapid prototyping applications

Silica microcomponents are attractive for applications requiring high temperature stability and chemical durability such as in microreactors. Rapid prototyping methods of forming ceramic dispersions hold great potential for manufacturing of microreactors. Stereolithography for example can benefit from highly solid loaded, low viscosity and high transparency dispersions. This article presents the development of >40 vol.%, UV curable transparent silica nanodispersions having viscosities suitable for stereolithography applications. The main parameters enabling these high loading dispersions are minimization of the Van der Waals attractive forces and affinity of monomer end group for the silica surface (e.g. hydrogen bonding). The minimization of the Van der Waals attraction is achieved by refractive index matching of the nanosilica and UV curable acrylate monomers. This results also in highly transparent dispersions having curing depths in the order of 10 mm in the UVA range. The transformation of selected dispersions to self-supporting silica glass sheets through UV curing, debinding and sintering was investigated by TGA/DTA, dilatometry and XRD.     

Clinical analysis of the neodymium:YLF picosecond laser as a microkeratome for laser in situ keratomileusis. Partially Sighted Eye Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of a picosecond neodymium:YLF (Nd:YLF) laser as a nonmechanical intrastromal microkeratome. SETTING: Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. METHODS: An intrastromal spiral disc pattern of picosecond laser pulses was used to create a corneal flap for laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in 14 partially sighted eyes. RESULTS: Flaps with a 6.0 mm diameter and 180 to 200 microns depth were successfully created in most cases. The underlying stroma was treated with a Lambda Physik excimer laser using a 3.5 to 4.5 mm optical zone. Patients were divided into 3 groups for target corrections of 5.0, 10.0, and 15.0 diopters of myopia. Good corneal clarity and refractive undercorrection were recorded in each group 6 months postoperatively. The undercorrection was due in part to the limited optical zone of the laser's delivery system. Some flap decentration was noted. CONCLUSION: This pilot study indicates that the Nd:YLF picosecond laser may be clinically applied for creating corneal flaps for LASIK. Further refinements of the laser delivery system will include enlargement of the flap diameter and improvements in flap centration. The use of a femtosecond laser may expand the capabilities and precision of this technology.     

Investigating the Effects of a Set of Intercorrelated Variables on Eye Fixation Durations in Reading.

The present experiment investigated the influence of 5 intercorrelated variables on word recognition using a multiple regression analysis. The 5 variables were word frequency, subjective familiarity, word length, concreteness, and age of acquisition (AoA). Target words were embedded in sentences and eye tracking methodology was used to investigate the predictive power of these variables. All 5 variables were found to influence reading time. However, the time course of these variables differed. Both word frequency and familiarity showed an early but lasting influence on eye fixation durations. Word length only significantly predicted fixation durations after refixations on the target words were taken into account. This is the 1st experiment to demonstrate concreteness and AoA effects on eye fixations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Environmental databases for management decisions: Alaska

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has completed a conceptual design for an environmental database to support the entire department in monitoring, tracking and reporting functions. SCS Engineers has performed an evaluation of the design. This paper presents the results of that evaluation. Special emphasis is placed on the problems of designing and implementing such a system, and proposed solutions to those problems. Particularly important are methodologies for allowing the data to be shared among multiple users within the department. This paper discusses several techniques designed to allow maximum utility of the system.