Lexical effects in naming pseudowords in shallow orthographies: Further empirical data.

Pseudoword reading in Italian, a language with a regular but context-sensitive mapping from orthography to phonology, was investigated. Pairs of pseudowords were derived from words by changing the vowel following a target letter. In 1 of the pseudowords, pronunciation of the target grapheme was the same as in the original word (consistent), whereas in the other it was different (inconsistent). In Experiment 1, pseudowords were mixed with words. In the other 2 experiments, only pseudowords were presented. Consistency effects in naming the pseudowords emerged in Experiment 1 but disappeared in Experiments 2 and 3. The pattern of results constrains the functional architecture of reading models because the list composition effect is compatible with a dual-route model but is difficult to reconcile with a single-route framework. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dielectric properties of thin films of Babassu‐based polymer and polyaniline blends

In the present work, we describe the preparation and subsequent characterization of polymeric blends consisting of a monoglyceride (MG) synthesized from the Babassu's oil and the already commonly employed polyaniline (PAni). By following changes in the complex impedance of capacitor‐like devices we observe that the presence of MG in the PAni/MG blends decreases electrical conductivity and that this decrease is a function of the content of MG in the blend, i.e., the blend with 30% of MG shows Z′ about seven times greater than the one with 10% of MG. Fourier transform infrared measurements prove the formation of MG and the presence of secondary amine groups (N? H bonds) in the blends, which allow for the chemical doping of PAni by protonation, further studies are necessary to access the viability of employing this new material as active layer in electronic organic devices. Atomic force microscopy images show the formation of agglomerates due to the presence of MG. In addition, the polymeric mixture acts only as a blend, providing a physical interaction between different components. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46198.     

Analysis of closed‐discharge single‐screw extrusion of power‐law fluids

For rheometry and polymer processing applications, it is important to correlate fluid material properties with extrusion parameters like pressure buildup and revolutions per minute. Previous attempts to obtain such correlations have resorted to numerical techniques or approximate relationships. Here we show that upon a suitable rotation of coordinate axes, analysis of the metering zone in closed‐discharge single‐screw extrusion is simplified. Taking advantage of such simplification, we have derived an analytic, self‐consistent relation between fluid properties and extrusion parameters, where the power‐law model is used throughout the analysis.     

A polymorphism in exon b2 of the major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr) identified in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients

The BCR/ABL junctional region and the b3 exon from chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients were sequenced. In all 21 samples analysed the junctional region, as well as the b3 exon of 8 b3a2 mRNA molecules, presented no differences to the already described sequences. However, we identified a polymorphic base in the b2 exon in two out of seven b3a2 samples, four out of 10 b2a2 samples and all four b3a2/b2a2 samples analysed. In the eighth position before the junctional region of BCR/ABL cDNA, a cytosine replaces thymine in these cases. The polymorphism described here could be a useful marker for the differentiation of normal and rearranged BCR alleles in heterozygotes.     

Studying chemical activation in carbon xerogels

Chemical activation of carbon xerogels synthesized with different resorcinol/sodium carbonate molar ratios (R/C) was performed using alkaline hydroxides (KOH and NaOH). The effect of R/C and the type and amount of alkaline hydroxide on the final properties of the activated carbon xerogels were evaluated. It was found that, in general, both hydroxides produce an increase in microporosity regardless of the R/C value chosen, without altering the meso/macroporosity developed during the synthesis. KOH develops the microporosity of micro-mesoporous carbon xerogels more efficiently than NaOH, and for samples of large pore size (micro-macroporous samples), a similar textural development was observed for both hydroxides. However, when NaOH is used as activating agent, it is more difficult to eliminate residual Na from the activated carbon xerogels.     

Mechanosensing in the Physiology and Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Normal gastrointestinal function relies on sensing and transducing mechanical signals into changes in intracellular signaling pathways. Both specialized mechanosensing cells, such as certain enterochromaffin cells and enteric neurons, and non-specialized cells, such as smooth muscle cells, interstitial cells of Cajal, and resident macrophages, participate in physiological and pathological responses to mechanical signals in the gastrointestinal tract. We review the role of mechanosensors in the different cell types of the gastrointestinal tract. Then, we provide several examples of the role of mechanotransduction in normal physiology. These examples highlight the fact that, although these responses to mechanical signals have been known for decades, the mechanosensors involved in these responses to mechanical signals are largely unknown. Finally, we discuss several diseases involving the overstimulation or dysregulation of mechanotransductive pathways. Understanding these pathways and identifying the mechanosensors involved in these diseases may facilitate the identification of new drug targets to effectively treat these diseases.     

Making a Robust Interfacial Scaffold: Bijel Rheology and its Link to Processability

Confocal microscopy and rheology studies of two bijel systems are presented to elucidate relationships between the physicochemical properties of bijels and their ability to be utilized as soft matter templates for materials synthesis. For the first time, the origins of viscoelasticity in these systems are investigated using conventional rheometry and a direct correspondence between the elastic storage modulus, particle loading, and the departure from criticality is observed. Further, the rheological transitions that accompany fluid re‐mixing in bijels are characterized, providing key insights into the synergistic role of interfacial tension and interparticle interactions in mediating their mechanical robustness. Bijels that are predominantly stabilized by interfacial tension are also highly sensitive to gradients in chemical composition and more easily prone to mechanical failure during processing. Despite this increased sensitivity, a modified strategy for processing these more delicate systems is developed and its efficacy is demonstrated by synthesizing a bicontinuous macroporous hydrogel scaffold.     

Principles in the Evolutionary Design of Digital Circuits—Part I

An evolutionary algorithm is used as an engine for discovering new designs of digital circuits, particularly arithmetic functions. These designs are often radically different from those produced by top-down, human, rule-based approaches. It is argued that by studying evolved designs of gradually increasing scale, one might be able to discern new, efficient, and generalizable principles of design. The ripple-carry adder principle is one such principle that can be inferred from evolved designs for one and two-bit adders. Novel evolved designs for three-bit binary multipliers are given that are 20% more efficient (in terms of number of two-input gates used) than the most efficient known conventional design.