Evidence for two-dimensional solitary sound waves in a lipid controlled interface and its implications for biological signalling

Biological membranes by virtue of their elastic properties should be capable of propagating localized perturbations analogous to sound waves. However, the existence and the possible role of such waves in communication in biology remain unexplored. Here, we report the first observations of two-dimensional solitary elastic pulses in lipid interfaces, excited mechanically and detected by FRET. We demonstrate that the nonlinearity near a maximum in the susceptibility of the lipid monolayer results in solitary pulses that also have a threshold for excitation. These experiments clearly demonstrate that the state of the interface regulates the propagation of pulses both qualitatively and quantitatively. Finally, we elaborate on the striking similarity of the observed phenomenon to nerve pulse propagation and a thermodynamic basis of cell signalling in general.     

An Innovative Technique for Rapid Screening of Cigarette Filter Adsorbents

Cigarette smoke is an aerosol containing a large number of chemicals, including toxicants. In recent years, a number of cigarette filter additives have been evaluated for their toxicant filtration properties. Screening is a useful tool to accelerate the testing and development of new filter additives and filtration mechanisms. The evaluation of a filter material screening technique based on the so‐called InfraSORP technology is described. By comparing InfraSORP measurements with reference cigarette smoke experiments of potential cigarette filter materials like activated carbons and ion‐exchange resin, an excellent correlation is demonstrated. This technique allows for a rapid screening of potential filter materials prior to testing any final candidates in cigarettes.     

赢创-创新思维、智绘未来

赢创工业集团是一家来自德国的创新型工业集团,我们的业务遍及全球100多个国家和地区,在化工、能源和房地产领域位居市场领先地位。自2007年9月成立以来,赢创保持着良好的业绩。即使在2009年经历经济危机,面临销售下降的状况,公司的盈利依然与前一年基本持平。2009年底,赢创董事会制定了新的集团战略:将赢创定位为全球领先的特种化工企业之一,并根据能源效率,健康与营养,和全球化科技发展等全球三大趋势,对增长性业务进行系统化地投资。全球三大趋势非常契合赢创化学业务的经营活动,以及其创新的产品概念和技术。在赢创增长战略中,中国将继续发挥至关重要的作用。赢创欢迎中国政府在低碳经济方面作出的新承诺,并将为这一市场做出我们的贡献。本报告将着重介绍赢创新的战略重点以及在低碳经济方面所作出的贡献。     

Can tutors be supported in giving effective explanations?

Tutors often make use of explanations that do not promote learning. One reason for the ineffectiveness of explanations might lie in tutors' failure to take into account a tutee's understanding in order to individualize instruction. To test whether tutors provide more effective explanations when they are assisted in assessing a tutee's understanding, we conducted an experiment (N = 30 dyads of tutors and tutees) and varied whether tutors received information about a tutee's individual knowledge level. Results showed that only tutors provided with information about the tutee were able to customize instruction. As a consequence, the individualized explanations lowered the incidence of clarifying questions on the part of the tutees, deepened their understanding, and reduced the number of false beliefs about newly learned concepts. The findings suggest that a diagnosis-based approach to support tutors in developing a model of the tutee effectively contributes to the individualization of instruction in tutoring. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)