Reply to Strain, Patterson, and Seidenberg (2002).

E. Strain, K. E. Patterson, and M. S. Seidenberg (2002) reported an effect of imageability and a Regularity X Imageability interaction in a regression analysis of naming latencies to 120 words. One of their items (couth) was named correctly by just 5 of their 24 participants, and its reaction time was an outlier on their distribution. When that single item is removed, the significant predictors are age of acquisition (AoA), word frequency, regularity, and length. Analyses of the combined data from J. Monaghan and A. W. Ellis's (2002) Experiments 1-3 indicate that AoA predicts naming latencies for exception words but not consistent words. E. Strain et al.'s other points are considered in the light of these observations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bayesian inference and uncertainty quantification for hydrogen-enriched and lean-premixed combustion systems

Development of probabilistic modelling tools to perform Bayesian inference and uncertainty quantification (UQ) is a challenging task for practical hydrogen-enriched and low-emission combustion systems due to the need to take into account simultaneously simulated fluid dynamics and detailed combustion chemistry. A large number of evaluations is required to calibrate models and estimate parameters using experimental data within the framework of Bayesian inference. This task is computationally prohibitive in high-fidelity and deterministic approaches such as large eddy simulation (LES) to design and optimize combustion systems. Therefore, there is a need to develop methods that: (a) are suitable for Bayesian inference studies and (b) characterize a range of solutions based on the uncertainty of modelling parameters and input conditions. This paper aims to develop a computationally-efficient toolchain to address these issues for probabilistic modelling of NOx emission in hydrogen-enriched and lean-premixed combustion systems. A novel method is implemented into the toolchain using a chemical reactor network (CRN) model, non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion based on the point collocation method (NIPCE-PCM), and the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. First, a CRN model is generated for a combustion system burning hydrogen-enriched methane/air mixtures at high-pressure lean-premixed conditions to compute NOx emission. A set of metamodels is then developed using NIPCE-PCM as a computationally efficient alternative to the physics-based CRN model. These surrogate models and experimental data are then implemented in the MCMC method to perform a two-step Bayesian calibration to maximize the agreement between model predictions and measurements. The average standard deviations for the prediction of exit temperature and NOx emission are reduced by almost 90% using this method. The calibrated model then used with confidence for global sensitivity and reliability analysis studies, which show that the volume of the main-flame zone is the most important parameter for NOx emission. The results show satisfactory performance for the developed toolchain to perform Bayesian inference and UQ studies, enabling a robust and consistent process for designing and optimising low-emission combustion systems.     

Air sampling filtration media: Collection efficiency for respirable size-selective sampling

The collection efficiencies of commonly used membrane air sampling filters in the ultrafine particle size range were investigated. Mixed cellulose ester (MCE; 0.45, 0.8, 1.2, and 5 μm pore sizes), polycarbonate (0.4, 0.8, 2, and 5 μm pore sizes), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE; 0.45, 1, 2, and 5 μm pore sizes), polyvinyl chloride (PVC; 0.8 and 5 μm pore sizes), and silver membrane (0.45, 0.8, 1.2, and 5 μm pore sizes) filters were exposed to polydisperse sodium chloride (NaCl) particles in the size range of 10–400 nm. Test aerosols were nebulized and introduced into a calm air chamber through a diffusion dryer and aerosol neutralizer. The testing filters (37 mm diameter) were mounted in a conductive polypropylene filter-holder (cassette) within a metal testing tube. The experiments were conducted at flow rates between 1.7 and 11.2 l min^?1. The particle size distributions of NaCl challenge aerosol were measured upstream and downstream of the test filters by a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Three different filters of each type with at least three repetitions for each pore size were tested. In general, the collection efficiency varied with airflow, pore size, and sampling duration. In addition, both collection efficiency and pressure drop increased with decreased pore size and increased sampling flow rate, but they differed among filter types and manufacturer. The present study confirmed that the MCE, PTFE, and PVC filters have a relatively high collection efficiency for challenge particles much smaller than their nominal pore size and are considerably more efficient than polycarbonate and silver membrane filters, especially at larger nominal pore sizes.     

Multi-layered plasma-polymerized chips for SPR-based detection

The surface functionalization of a noble metal is crucial in a surface plasmon resonance-based biomolecular detection system because the interfacial coating must retain the activity of immobilized biomolecules while enhancing the optimal loading. We present here a one-step, room-temperature, high-speed, gas-phase plasma polymerization process for functionalizing gold substrates using siloxane as an adhesion layer and acrylic acid as a functional layer. Siloxane- and thiol-based coatings were compared for their performance as adhesion and the interfacial layer for subsequent functionalization. An in situ sequential deposition of siloxane and acrylic acid resulted in a 7-fold increase in carboxylic functionality surfacial content compared to films deposited with thiol-containing precursors. Grading of the layer composition achieved as a consequence of ion-induced mixing on the surface coating under the application of the plasma is confirmed through secondary ion mass spectroscopic studies. DNA hybridization assays were demonstrated on gold/glass substrates using surface plasmon enhanced ellipsometry and the applicability of this coating for protein immunoassays were demonstrated with plasma functionalized gold/plastic substrates in Biacore 3000 SPR instrument.     

IT in mathematics initial teacher training - factors influencing school experience

Abstract This paper presents some findings of a local study of the IT background of secondary mathematics PGCE students and the use these students made of IT in their mathematics lessons in schools. Traditional and school-based initial training schemes are examined and although some differences appear regarding the use of IT in mathematics lessons, these differences are not large. Nationally, future secondary courses will be school-based; implications for future training are considered.     

The influence of simulated clinical handling on the flexural and compressive strength of posterior composite restorative materials

The effect of IL-4 on biological regulation of tumor cell lines was observed by using human recombinant interleukin-4. The observation included cell proliferation, differentiation, cell surface marker and cytokine secretion. The effect of IL-4 on cell proliferation of nine cell lines was different. It showed 4/9 inhibitory effect, 3/9 enhancing effect and 2/9 no effect. The inhibitory effect of IL-4 on U937 cell proliferation was correlated with cell differentiation. IL-4 enhanced the expression of cell surface markers (including MHC class I, MHC class II and TAA) of some cell lines. Furthermore, IL-4 inhibited the production of IL-2 by MLA144. The preliminary results indicate that the effect of IL-4 on biological regulation of tumor cell lines is benefitial for controlling tumor cell growth and enhancing tumor cell recognition by effector cells. However, the down regulation also could be exerted.     

Division of labor between the hemispheres for complex but not simple tasks: An implemented connectionist model.

When stimuli have to be matched in a complex task (such as whether 2 letters have the same name), then performance is better when stimuli are presented across the hemispheres of the brain, whereas for simpler tasks (such as whether 2 letters have the same shape), better performance is achieved when stimuli are presented unilaterally. The authors show that this bilateral distribution advantage effect emerged spontaneously in a neural network model learning to solve simple and complex tasks with separate input layers and separate, but interconnected, resources in a hidden layer. The authors show that relating computational models to behavioral and imaging data proves fruitful for understanding hemispheric processing and generating testable hypotheses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)