Factor structure of the Graduate Record Examinations General Test in handicapped and nonhandicapped groups.

We used confirmatory factor analysis to investigate the structure of the Graduate Record Examinations General Test across handicapped and nonhandicapped groups. A simple three-factor model, consisting of verbal, quantitative, and analytical item types, was posed and tested for model fit. In addition, a higher order factor solution was computed to investigate the meaning of General Test total scores and to probe observed discrepancies in factor structure. Results suggested that the three-factor model fit better than simpler models but less well than a four-factor solution. The three-factor model showed particular problems in fit for visually impaired students taking a large-type examination and for physically impaired examinees taking a standard administration. For these groups, the item types composing the Analytical factor did not appear to function effectively as a single factor. For the large-type group, in particular, these item types exhibited different relations with the other factors, had different relations with the test's general factor, and appeared to produce different scale units. Results suggest that Analytical scores and total scores (Verbal?+?Quantitative?+?Analytical) may have different meanings across handicapped and nonhandicapped groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A conserved histidine is essential for glycerolipid acyltransferase catalysis

Sequence analysis of membrane-bound glycerolipid acyltransferases revealed that proteins from the bacterial, plant, and animal kingdoms share a highly conserved domain containing invariant histidine and aspartic acid residues separated by four less conserved residues in an HX4D configuration. We investigated the role of the invariant histidine residue in acyltransferase catalysis by site-directed mutagenesis of two representative members of this family, the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (PlsB) and the bifunctional 2-acyl-glycerophosphoethanolamine acyltransferase/acyl-acyl carrier protein synthetase (Aas) of Escherichia coli. Both the PlsB[H306A] and Aas[H36A] mutants lacked acyltransferase activity. However, the Aas[H36A] mutant retained significant acyl-acyl carrier protein synthetase activity, illustrating that the lack of acyltransferase activity was specifically associated with the H36A substitution. The invariant aspartic acid residue in the HX4D pattern was also important. The substitution of aspartic acid 311 with glutamic acid in PlsB resulted in an enzyme with significantly reduced catalytic activity. Substitution of an alanine at this position eliminated acyltransferase activity; however, the PlsB[D311A] mutant protein did not assemble into the membrane, indicating that aspartic acid 311 is also important for the proper folding and membrane insertion of the acyltransferases. These data are consistent with a mechanism for glycerolipid acyltransferase catalysis where the invariant histidine functions as a general base to deprotonate the hydroxyl moiety of the acyl acceptor.     

The relationship between personality characteristics and postconcussion symptoms in a nonclinical sample.

Postconcussion symptoms are relatively common in the acute recovery period following mild traumatic brain injury. However, for a small subset of patients, self reported postconcussion symptoms continue long after injury. Many factors have been proposed to account for the presence of persistent postconcussion symptoms. The influence of personality traits has been proposed as one explanation. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between postconcussion-like symptom reporting and personality traits in a sample of 96 healthy participants. Participants completed the British Columbia Postconcussion Symptom Inventory and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI–III). There was a strong positive relation between the majority of MCMI–III scales and postconcussion-like symptom reporting. Approximately half of the sample met the International Classification of Diseases-10 Criterion C symptoms for Postconcussional Syndrome. Compared with those participants who did not meet this criterion, the PCS group had significant elevations on the negativistic, depression, major depression, dysthymia, anxiety, dependent, sadistic, somatic, and borderline scales of the MCMI–III. These findings support the hypothesis that personality traits can play a contributing role in self reported postconcussion symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Fitted L-Multi-Point Flux Approximation Method for Pricing Options

Computational Economics - In this paper, we introduce a special kind of finite volume method called Multi-Point Flux Approximation method (MPFA) to price European and American options in two...     

A Ligand-Directed Nitrophenol Carbonate for Transient in situ Bioconjugation and Drug Delivery

Here we report the first use of ligand-directed proximity accelerated bioconjugation chemistry in the tandem delivery and release of a therapeutic payload. To do this, we designed a nitrophenol carbonate for ligand-directed in situ bioconjugation of a prodrug payload to a protein. The transient nature of our conjugation chemistry renders the protein a depot for time-dependent release of active drug following hydrolysis and self-immolation. In our model system, using an immunostimulant prodrug, biotin ligand, and avidin protein, we observe release of bioavailable immunostimulant both spectroscopically and with an immune cell line over 48 h. Avidin co-crystalized with the nitrophenolate directing group verified the binding pose of the ligand and offered insight into the mechanism of in situ bioconjugation. Overall, this scaffold warrants further investigation for the time-dependent delivery of therapeutics and use in protein ligand pairs beyond biotin and avidin used for this work.     

Perceived Interior Space of Motor Vehicles based on Illusory Design Elements

Driver and passengers recognize the interior spaces of cars psychologically as well as physically. Since the car companies have difficulty extending the physical spaces of cars due to the cost and physical constraints, they tend to make an effort to widen the perceived space instead of the physical space. In this study, we aim to investigate the effectiveness of car interior designs to which optical illusions are applied to increase their perceived roominess. Instrument panels, door‐trim armrests, and A‐pillars were chosen as the interior spaces of cars that optical illusions were applied to because drivers most frequently recognize and use them. To get alternative car interior designs, the original car designs were modified by applying optical illusions. Also, the questionnaire that includes 28 questions was used to measure “perceived roominess,” “space completeness,” “openness,” “dullness,” and “narrowness” for original interior design and alternative designs based on optical illusions, and 30 people participated in the experiments that were conducted to compare among original and optical illusion–based designs. As a result, optical illusion–based designs were significantly better than original designs in terms of perceived roominess, and the following alternative designs were recommended: the instrument panel design of a 30% longer converging point than the original design, the horizontal door‐trim armrest design, and the A‐pillar design whose cross section is rectangular. We can conclude that the optical illusions can be applied to designing in‐vehicle spaces to increase perceived roominess.     

Home environment and cognitive development in the first 3 years of life: A collaborative study involving six sites and three ethnic groups in North America.

Attempted to examine the generalizability of environment/development relationships among 3 ethnic groups across the first 3 years of life. Social status did not show a consistent relationship to either quality of home environment or children's developmental status across the various groups. Results indicated a fairly consistent relationship between HOME scores and children's developmental status, although there were some ethnic and social status differences in the relationship. Measures of specific aspects of the child's home environment, such as parental responsivity and availability of stimulating play materials, were more strongly related to child developmental status than global measures of environmental quality such as SES. When the child's developmental status and early home environment were both very low, the likelihood of poor developmental outcomes was markedly increased compared with cases when only one was low. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distinctive messages in infant-directed lullabies and play songs.

Mothers were recorded singing a song of their choice in both a lullaby style and a play-song style to their 6-month-olds. Adult raters identified the play-song-style and lullaby-style versions with 100% accuracy. Play-song-style renditions were rated as being more brilliant, clipped, and rhythmic and as having more smiling and more prominent consonants. Lullaby-style renditions were characterized as being more airy, smooth, and soothing. Adults observed videotapes (without sound) of 6-month-olds listening to alternating lullaby-style and play-song-style trials and performed at above chance levels when determining which music the infants were hearing. Coding analyses revealed that infants focused their attention more toward themselves during lullaby-style trials and more toward the external world during play-song-style trials. These results suggest that singing may be used to regulate infants' states and to communicate emotional information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

超频在云端——技嘉云超频技术详解

超频对于大多数主流用户来说就是在不花钱的情况下获得更大的使用价值而已，超频仅仅是PC应用中的一部分，虽然不是全部，但却能让人们享受到价值最大化的优越感。而好的超频应用解决方案则能够让用户在追求优越感的过程中从惬意的操作环境中再次享受到优越感。