The Representation of Homophones: Evidence From the Distractor-Frequency Effect.

Current models of word production offer different accounts of the representation of homophones in the lexicon. The investigation of how the homophone status of a word affects lexical access can be used to test theories of lexical processing. In this study, homophones appeared as word distractors superimposed on pictures that participants named orally. The authors varied distractor frequency, a variable that has been shown to modulate the interference that distractors produce on picture naming. The results of 3 experiments converged in showing that words interfered in proportion to their individual frequency in the language, even if they have high-frequency homophone mates. This effect of specific-word frequency is compatible with models that assume (a) distinct lexical representations for the individual homophones and (b) that access to such representations is modulated by frequency. The authors discuss the extent to which current models of word production satisfy these constraints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Polariscopic imaging and vibrational characterization of hybrid films for packaging

Polymeric films (low‐density polyethylene and oriented polypropylene) for packaging applications coated with organic–inorganic nanocomposite hybrids have been prepared by sol‐gel process. Tetraethoxysilane and two different organic phases, polyvinyl alcohol and a diblock copolymer polyethylene‐polyethylene glycol were used as precursors. Information about the hydrolysis and polycondensation degrees was obtained by investigating the vibrational features of the coatings by means of attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies. Through a new polariscopic imaging technique, the bi‐dimensional maps of the optical anisotropy of the samples, both as‐prepared and under mechanical strain, were obtained. The maps showed inhomogeneous retardation and nearly flat azimuth distributions. The anisotropy properties of the samples depended mainly on the substrates and were not influenced by the coatings, while the optical transmission was slightly better for the tetraethoxysilane‐polyvinyl alcohol sample. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculations of free energy barriers for local mechanisms of hydrogen diffusion in alanates

Brute force histogram calculation and a recently developed method to efficiently reconstruct the free energy profile of complex systems (the single-sweep method) are combined with ab initio molecular dynamics to study possible local mechanisms for the diffusion of hydrogen in sodium alanates. These compounds may help to understand key properties of solid state hydrogen storage materials. In this work, the identity of a mobile species observed in experiments characterizing the first dissociation reaction of sodium alanates is investigated. The activation barrier of two suggested processes for hydrogen diffusion in Na₃AlH₆ is evaluated and, by comparing our results with available experimental information, we are able to discriminate among them and to show that one is compatible with the observed signal while the other is not.     

Sex and Age-Related Differences in Neuroinflammation and Apoptosis in Balb/c Mice Retina Involve Resolvin D1

(1) Background: The pro-resolving lipid mediator Resolvin D1 (RvD1) has already shown protective effects in animal models of diabetic retinopathy. This study aimed to investigate the retinal levels of RvD1 in aged (24 months) and younger (3 months) Balb/c mice, along with the activation of macro- and microglia, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation. (2) Methods: Retinas from male and female mice were used for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. (3) Results: Endogenous retinal levels of RvD1 were reduced in aged mice. While RvD1 levels were similar in younger males and females, they were markedly decreased in aged males but less reduced in aged females. Both aged males and females showed a significant increase in retinal microglia activation compared to younger mice, with a more marked reactivity in aged males than in aged females. The same trend was shown by astrocyte activation, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and nitrosative stress, in line with the microglia and Müller cell hypertrophy evidenced in aged retinas by electron microscopy. (4) Conclusions: Aged mice had sex-related differences in neuroinflammation and apoptosis and low retinal levels of endogenous RvD1.     

Vaginal Lactobacilli and Vaginal Dysbiosis-Associated Bacteria Differently Affect Cervical Epithelial and Immune Homeostasis and Anti-Viral Defenses

Persistent infection with High Risk-Human Papilloma Viruses (HR-HPVs) is a primary cause of cervical cancer worldwide. Vaginal-dysbiosis-associated bacteria were correlated with the persistence of HR-HPVs infection and with increased cancer risk. We obtained strains of the most represented bacterial species in vaginal microbiota and evaluated their effects on the survival of cervical epithelial cells and immune homeostasis. The contribution of each species to supporting the antiviral response was also studied. Epithelial cell viability was affected by culture supernatants of most vaginal-dysbiosis bacteria, whereas Lactobacillus gasseri or Lactobacillus jensenii resulted in the best stimulus to induce interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production by human mononuclear cells from peripheral blood (PBMCs). Although vaginal-dysbiosis-associated bacteria induced the IFN-γ production, they were also optimal stimuli to interleukin-17 (IL-17) production. A positive correlation between IL-17 and IFN-γ secretion was observed in cultures of PBMCs with all vaginal-dysbiosis-associated bacteria suggesting that the adaptive immune response induced by these strains is not dominated by T_H1 differentiation with reduced availability of IFN-γ, cytokine most effective in supporting virus clearance. Based on these results, we suggest that a vaginal microbiota dominated by lactobacilli, especially by L. gasseri or L. jensenii, may be able to assist immune cells with clearing HPV infection, bypasses the viral escape and restores immune homeostasis.     

Broadened Friedreich's ataxia phenotype after gene cloning. Minimal GAA expansion causes late-onset spastic ataxia

We describe three siblings from an Italian family affected by an autosomal recessive spinocerebellar degeneration. Gait ataxia, presenting between 38 and 45 years, was the first symptom in all three patients. Dysarthria, dysmetria, brisk tendon reflexes, extensor plantar response, and scoliosis were constant features. Disease progression was slow. Electrophysiologic studies demonstrated a slight reduction in sural nerve sensory action potential in only one patient. Analysis of GAA expansion within the X25 gene showed that patients were homozygous for the expansion, with the shorter expanded allele ranging from 120 to 156 triplets. The size of the GAA expansion may be smaller than we previously described. Such minimal expansions may result in atypical forms of Friedreich's ataxia.     

Text mining applied to patent mapping: a practical business case

Professional patent searchers are traditionally rather suspicious of the alleged “black box” effect inherently attached to intelligent software engines relying upon linguistic technologies for patent analysis and mapping. In this article, the authors propose that such prejudices can be overcome by setting a realistic business objective while experimenting with these new linguistic tools, as well as by applying serious methodology for validating the results of the analysis. The strengths and weaknesses of a particular text mining tool are assessed with reference to a practical business case in the field of packaging technology, and a comparison of the outcome of such an analysis with a traditional one, carried out using conventional patent classifications, is also described.     

Comparison of surface sampling methods and cleanability assessment of stainless steel surfaces subjected or not to shot peening

The cleanability of AISI 304 stainless steel surfaces, indicated by the removal of Escherichia coli cells or Aspergillus niger spores was assessed by controlled inoculation and washing treatment of samples in standardised conditions. Two systems of recapture (Rodac plate technique and swabbing technique) were compared. Four industrial finishes, subjected or not to shot peening, contaminated at low concentration (1–10 cfu/cm²), and then washed with distilled water or alkaline detergent, were examined. The Rodac plate technique detected most of microorganisms inoculated (80% for E. coli cells and 67% for A. niger spores), whereas the swabbing technique recovered only 1% of the E. coli cells and 26% of the A. niger spores. Using the Rodac plate technique E. coli cells proved to be easily detachable from samples either with distilled water (98%) or alkaline detergent (>99%). For the surfaces contaminated with A. niger spores, the cleanability increased from 34% with distilled water to 77% with alkaline detergent. In these working conditions type of finish (shot treated or not) had no significant effect on cleanability of stainless steel.     

Detecting Variants in the NBN Gene While Testing for Hereditary Breast Cancer: What to Do Next?

The NBN gene has been included in breast cancer (BC) multigene panels based on early studies suggesting an increased BC risk for carriers, though not confirmed by recent research. To evaluate the impact of NBN analysis, we assessed the results of NBN sequencing in 116 BRCA-negative BC patients and reviewed the literature. Three patients (2.6%) carried potentially relevant variants: two, apparently unrelated, carried the frameshift variant c.156_157delTT and another one the c.628G>T variant. The latter was subsequently found in 4/1390 (0.3%) BC cases and 8/1580 (0.5%) controls in an independent sample, which, together with in silico predictions, provided evidence against its pathogenicity. Conversely, the rare c.156_157delTT variant was absent in the case-control set; moreover, a 50% reduction of NBN expression was demonstrated in one carrier. However, in one family it failed to co-segregate with BC, while the other carrier was found to harbor also a probably pathogenic TP53 variant that may explain her phenotype. Therefore, the c.156_157delTT, although functionally deleterious, was not supported as a cancer-predisposing defect. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic NBN variants were detected by multigene panels in 31/12314 (0.25%) patients included in 15 studies. The risk of misinterpretation of such findings is substantial and supports the exclusion of NBN from multigene panels.