The influence of improper sets of information on judgment: How irrelevant information can bias judged probability.

This article introduces 2 new sources of bias in probability judgment, discrimination failure and inhibition failure, which are conceptualized as arising from an interaction between error prone memory processes and a support theory like comparison process. Both sources of bias stem from the influence of irrelevant information on participants' probability judgments, but they postulate different mechanisms for how irrelevant information affects judgment. The authors used an adaptation of the proactive interference (PI) and release from PI paradigm to test the effect of irrelevant information on judgment. The results of 2 experiments support the discrimination failure account of the effect of PI on probability judgment. In addition, the authors show that 2 commonly used measures of judgment accuracy, absolute and relative accuracy, can be dissociated. The results have broad implications for theories of judgment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Persistent long-term changes in lymphocyte subsets induced by polyclonal antibodies

BACKGROUND: Clinicians are well aware of the short-term effects of immunosuppression by mono- or polyclonal antibodies. Little is known about long-term changes induced by these therapies. METHODS: Forty-three renal allograft recipients were selected according to their initial postoperative immunosuppression: (1) BI group=basic immunosuppression with steroids and cyclosporine, n=16; (2) ATG group=basic immunosuppression plus polyclonal antibody antithymocyte globulin (ATG), n=11; and (3) OKT3 group=basic immunosuppression plus monoclonal antibody OKT3, n=16 patients. At intervals of 6 months, the following parameters were measured prospectively: lymphocyte surface antigens (HLA-DR, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19, CD56, and CD57); serum and urine neopterin; serum amyloid A; and indirect and direct tests for herpes viruses. RESULTS: The mean period of observation was 58.4 months. The most significant differences between the groups occurred for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The ratios of CD4+ to CD8+ cells (n=278 measurements) were significantly and persistently lower in the ATG group (P<0.001, Brown-Mood test). Five years after transplantation, the ATG group had a CD4+ to CD8+ cell ratio of x=0.6 versus x=1.7 in the OKT3 group and x=2.0 in the BI group. This inversion was due to a persistent depletion of the CD4+ cells and an increased regeneration of the CD8+ cells, in particular of the CD8+brightCD57+ subpopulation. Extent and duration of CD4+ depletion correlated with the cumulative ATG dose (r=0.7, P<0.05, Spearman rank correlation test). CONCLUSION: Therapy with polyclonal antibody ATG induces dose-dependent long-term changes in T-cell lymphocyte subsets, which persist over a period of years.     

Sintering Behavior of In Situ Cobalt Oxide-Doped Cerium–Gadolinium Oxide Prepared by Flame Spray Pyrolysis

Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 (CGO10) and in situ cobalt oxide-doped CGO10 were prepared by pilot-scale flame spray synthesis, yielding powders with an average particle size of 40 nm. Cobalt oxide was shown to be a very effective sintering aid for CGO10 and lowered the maximum sintering temperature from 1450° to about 1200°C. Sintering studies revealed that in situ cobalt oxide-doped CGO10 exhibited a temperature of maximum shrinkage rate of 880°C for a dopant concentration of 1 mol% CoO_{1− x} , whereas for conventionally cobalt oxide-doped CGO10, this temperature was 914°C. This decrease is believed to be a result of a more homogeneous dopant distribution of the in situ cobalt oxide-doped CGO nanopowders as compared with the powders in which the doping was introduced as nitrates.     

More information on infectious diseases provided by a national information system

The Infectious Diseases Information System (ISIS) was established to improve the exchange of information about infectious diseases among those combating these diseases. Information about infectious diseases is obtained from municipal health services by means of a data processing system elaborated by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. After adjustment to the new Act on Combating and Tracing of Infectious Diseases it will be introduced nation-wide in 1998. Information about pathogens is obtained from medical microbiological laboratories (MMLs) through automatic storage of positive and negative results in a central data bank. After a pilot project had shown that the data from one MML, Arnhem, were complete and reliable, the MMLs of Roermond and Tilburg were also connected. For feedback of information to medical microbiologists and infectious diseases specialists, but also to, for instance, GPs, data from the whole country are presented daily on a public Internet site (http:/(/)www.isis.rivm.nl).     

Graphene-stabilized copper nanoparticles as an air-stable substitute for silver and gold in low-cost ink-jet printable electronics

Metallic copper nanoparticles were synthesized by a bottom-up approach, and in situ coated with protective shells of graphene in order to get a metal nanopowder of high air stability and chemical inertness. Using an amphiphilic surfactant, a water-based copper nanocolloid could be prepared and successfully printed onto a polymer substrate by conventional ink-jet printing using household printers. The dried printed patterns exhibited strong metallic gloss and an electrical conductivity of >1?S?cm(-1) without the need for a sintering or densification step. This conductivity currently limits use in electronics to low current application or shielding and decorative effects. The high stability of graphene-coated copper nanoparticles makes them economically a most attractive alternative to silver or gold nanocolloids, and will strongly facilitate the industrial use of metal nanocolloids in consumer goods.     

Chemical modification of graphene characterized by Raman and transport experiments

A chemical approach to modify the electronic transport of graphene is investigated by detailed transport and Raman spectroscopy measurements on Hall bar shaped samples. The functionalization of graphene with nitrobenzene diazonium ions results in a strong p-doping of the graphene samples and only slightly lower mobilities. Comparing Raman and transport data taken after each functionalization step allowed the conclusion that two preferential reactions take place on the graphene surface. In the beginning a few nitrobenzene molecules are directly attached to the graphene atoms creating defects. Afterwards these act as seeds for a polymer like growth not directly connected to the graphene atoms. The effects of solvents were excluded by thorough control measurements.     

Compression testing of metallic glass at small length scales: Effects on deformation mode and stability

Size effects on plastic deformation of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass were examined using microcompression specimens with diameters ranging from 200 nm to 3.6 μm. Shear banding is shown to be more stable at this length scale than in macro-scale testing because of a smaller specimen to load frame stiffness ratio. A change in deformation mode from discrete strain bursts to more continuous deformation including both localized and non-localized contributions was observed at low strains in specimens less than 300 nm in diameter. A linear relationship was observed between the magnitude of the strain burst and the specimen diameter. A model for the superposition of strain from individual flow defects, consistent with the observed behavior, is presented. Extrapolation of this data indicates that a critical shear band nucleus length of 11 nm is required for successful flow localization. This limit has important implications for the development of strengthening and toughening strategies.