Repetition priming for newly formed and preexisting associations: Perceptual and conceptual influences.

Three experiments demonstrate that association-specific repetition effects can be obtained for both newly formed and preexisting associations and that these effects are sensitive to modality of presentation. After studying a list of word pairs, participants were shown the original intact pairs and pairs formed by recombining the original pairs. In a lexical-decision task in which participants were asked to indicate whether both items were words, responses were faster to newly formed associations in the intact than in the recombined condition. This association-specific repetition priming effect was also observed for preexisting associations when a speeded relatedness judgment task was used. Both effects were found to be attenuated under cross-modal presentation. Finally, an explicit speeded recognition task revealed an associative effect that was not attenuated when modality was crossed for newly formed associations and was actually exaggerated for preexisting associations, suggesting that the repetition priming effects were not produced by conscious recollection. Results are discussed in terms of frameworks that are based either on perceptual representation systems or on a transfer-appropriate processing model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Site-Specific Protein Labeling with Fluorophores as a Tool To Monitor Protein Turnover

Proteins that terminally fail to acquire their native structure are detected and degraded by cellular quality control systems. Insights into cellular protein quality control are key to a better understanding of how cells establish and maintain the integrity of their proteome and of how failures in these processes cause human disease. Here we have used genetic code expansion and fast bio-orthogonal reactions to monitor protein turnover in mammalian cells through a fluorescence-based assay. We have used immune signaling molecules (interleukins) as model substrates and shown that our approach preserves normal cellular quality control, assembly processes, and protein functionality and works for different proteins and fluorophores. We have further extended our approach to a pulse-chase type of assay that can provide kinetic insights into cellular protein behavior. Taken together, this study establishes a minimally invasive method to investigate protein turnover in cells as a key determinant of cellular homeostasis.     

Carbon cycling in a zero-discharge mariculture system

Interest in mariculture systems will rise in the near future due to the decreased ability of the ocean to supply the increasing demand for seafood. We present a trace study using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and chemical profiles of a zero-discharge mariculture system stocked with the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Water quality maintenance in the system is based on two biofiltration steps. Firstly, an aerobic treatment step comprising a trickling filter in which ammonia is oxidized to nitrate. Secondly, an anaerobic step comprised of a digestion basin and a fluidized bed reactor where excess organic matter and nitrate are removed. Dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity values were higher in the anaerobic loop than in the aerobic loop, in agreement with the main biological processes taking place in the two treatment steps. The δ¹³C of the dissolved inorganic carbon (δ¹³C_DIC) was depleted in ¹³C in the anaerobic loop as compared to the aerobic loop by 2.5-3‰. This is in agreement with the higher dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations in the anaerobic loop and the low water retention time and the chemolithotrophic activity of the aerobic loop. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of organic matter in the mariculture system indicated that fish fed solely on feed pellets. Compared to feed pellets and particulate organic matter, the sludge in the digestion basin was enriched in ¹⁵N while δ¹³C was not significantly different. This latter finding points to an intensive microbial degradation of the organic matter taking place in the anaerobic treatment step of the system.     

Linear array characteristics with one-dimensional reactive-regionnear-field scanning: simulations and measurements

A model for simulating the performance of a phased-array antenna with one-dimensional near-field scanning is addressed. Measurements and simulations in the reactive near-field region for a linear array with monopole elements are described. The array and near-field probe characteristics are simulated by using the method of moments. Measurements and simulations of the array near-zone received voltage, plane-wave spectrum, and far-field data, using centerline scanning at less than one wavelength distance from the antenna, are shown to be in good agreement. The presence of evanescent grating lobes in the plane-wave spectrum is observed. It is shown that a V-dipole theoretical probe antenna can accurately model a practical near-field measurement probe     

Efficient low-contention asynchronous consensus with the value-oblivious adversary scheduler

We consider asynchronous consensus in the shared-memory setting. We present the first efficient low-contention consensus algorithm for the weak-adversary-scheduler model. The algorithm achieves consensus in total work and (hot-spot) contention, both expected and with high probability. The algorithm assumes the value-oblivious scheduler, which is defined in the paper. Previous efficient consensus algorithms for weak adversaries suffer from memory contention.Yonatan Aumann: This work was partially completed while theauthor was at Harvard University, supported in part by ONRcontract ONR-N00014-91-J-1981.Michael A. Bender: This work was supported inpart by HRL Laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, and NSF GrantsACI-032497, CCR-0208670, and EIA-0112849. This work was partiallycompleted while the author was at Harvard University, supported inpart by NSF grants CCR-9700365, CCR-9504436, and CCR-9313775.An early version of this paper was presented in the 23rd International Colloquium on Automata, Languages, and Programming (ICALP 96) [8].     

Seamless Montage for Texturing Models

We present an automatic method to recover high‐resolution texture over an object by mapping detailed photographs onto its surface. Such high‐resolution detail often reveals inaccuracies in geometry and registration, as well as lighting variations and surface reflections. Simple image projection results in visible seams on the surface. We minimize such seams using a global optimization that assigns compatible texture to adjacent triangles. The key idea is to search not only combinatorially over the source images, but also over a set of local image transformations that compensate for geometric misalignment. This broad search space is traversed using a discrete labeling algorithm, aided by a coarse‐to‐fine strategy. Our approach significantly improves resilience to acquisition errors, thereby allowing simple and easy creation of textured models for use in computer graphics.     

Mechanically Defined Microenvironment Promotes Stabilization of Microvasculature,Which Correlates with the Enrichment of a Novel Piezo‐1+ Population of Circulating CD11b+/CD115+ Monocytes

Vascularization is a critical step in the restoration of cellular homeostasis. Several strategies including localized growth factor delivery, endothelial progenitor cells, genetically engineered cells, gene therapy, and prevascularized implants have been explored to promote revascularization. But, long‐term stabilization of newly induced vessels remains a challenge. It has been shown that fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells can stabilize newly induced vessels. However, whether an injected biomaterial alone can serve as an instructive environment for angiogenesis remains to be elucidated. It is reported here that appropriate vascular branching, and long‐term stabilization can be promoted simply by implanting a hydrogel with stiffness matching that of fibrin clot. A unique subpopulation of circulating CD11b⁺ myeloid and CD11b⁺/CD115⁺ monocytes that express the stretch activated cation channel Piezo‐1, which is enriched prominently in the clot‐like hydrogel, is identified. These findings offer evidence for a mechanobiology paradigm in angiogenesis involving an interplay between mechanosensitive circulating cells and mechanics of tissue microenvironment.     

Measurement of the fluence response of the GSI neutron ball in high-energy neutron fields produced by 500 AMeV and 800 AMeV deuterons

Experiments were performed in Cave C of GSI (Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung) using the LAND (Large Area Neutron Detector) in combination with the deflection magnet ALADIN (A LArge DIpol magNet) in front of the LAND where charged particles and neutrons can be separated. This arrangement is used to create high-energetic neutron fields by irradiation of a thick lead target (5 cm) with deuteron beams with the energies of 500 or 800 MeV per nucleon. In break-up reactions the neutron is separated from the proton which is deflected in the magnetic field of the ALADIN. The produced neutron radiation, which has a pronounced peak at the nucleon energy, is used to measure the fluence response of the GSI neutron ball. A thermoluminescence (TL) based spherical neutron dosemeter was developed for the area monitoring for the quantity H(10) at high-energy accelerators. In the same experiment, the spectral neutron fluence Phi(E) is measured with the LAND in the energy range from 100 MeV to 1 GeV. The measured fluence responses are compared with results of FLUKA calculations and the corresponding fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients. The measured dosemeter responses are too high in comparison to the calculated ones (up to approximately 50%), the dosemeter reading gives dose values which are too high by a factor of 1.1-2.2 related to the corresponding fluence-to-dose conversion factors.     

Efficiency optimization potential in supercritical Organic Rankine Cycles

Nowadays, the use of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) in decentralised applications is linked with the fact that this process allows the use of low temperature heat sources and offers an advantageous efficiency in small-scale concepts. Many state-of-the-art and innovative applications can successfully use the ORC process. In this process, according to the heat source level, special attention must be drawn to the choice of the appropriate working fluid, which is a factor that affects the thermal and exergetic efficiency of the cycle. The investigation of supercritical parameters of various working fluids in ORC applications seems to bring promising results concerning the efficiency of the application.