Analysis of group process: Cooperation of preschool children.

Studied cooperation from a group process perspective within the free play of children aged 2, 3, and 4 yrs. 72 children were distributed among 12 groups, with 3 boys and 3 girls in each group and 4 groups in each age. Two 30-min sessions were videotaped for each group to assess dimensions of cooperation such as the number of children in each subgroup, kind of play, and type of activity. Observational analyses showed that cooperation is present at every age but may develop rapidly at certain ages and plateau at others. Furthermore, results suggest that group play is not the culmination of a linear developmental process. Modifications in quantity between the 2 youngest and the oldest group suggest a cooperation continuum of its own, with large variations between groups within each age group. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Convective heat transfer on a rotating finned cylinder with transverse airflow

The present experimental investigation relates to the convective heat transfer determination around annular fins mounted on a rotating cylinder with air crossflow. The mean convective heat transfer coefficient can be identified by solving the inverse conduction heat transfer problem during the fin cooling process. We used an inverse method, based on the mean squared error, to develop a model of mean convective heat transfer, taking lateral conduction into account. Tests were carried out for rotational Reynolds numbers Re_ω between 2150 and 17,200, air crossflow Reynolds numbers Re_U between 0 and 39,600, and fin spacings u in the range 10 mm to ∞, u = ∞ corresponding to the single disk case. For each fin spacing, the relative influences of the rotational and airflow forced convections on the heat transfer were analyzed and correlations of the mean Nusselt number on the fin, relative to both Reynolds numbers, are proposed. Moreover, an efficiency definition, that allows optimal geometrical configurations of the finned cylinder to be identified for the given operating conditions, is proposed.     

Regulation of T-cell antigen receptor signalling by Syk tyrosine protein kinase

T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) signalling has been shown to involve two classes of tyrosine protein kinases: the Src-related kinases p56(lck) and p59(fyr), and the Zap-70/Syk family kinases. Lck and FynT are postulated to initiate TCR-triggered signal transduction by phosphorylating the CD3 and zeta subunits of the TCR complex. This modification permits the recruitment of Zap-70 and Syk, which are presumed to amplify the TCR-triggered signal, by phosphorylating additional intracellular proteins. While Zap-70 is expressed in all T cells, Syk is present in thymocytes and mature T-cell populations such as intraepithelial gammadelta T cells and naive alphabeta T cells. To better understand the role of Syk in these cells, its impact on the physiology of an antigen-specific T-cell line was tested. Our results showed that compared to Zap-70 alone, Syk was a strong positive regulator of antigen receptor-induced signals in BI-141 cells. Surprisingly, they indicated that, like Src family kinases, Syk augmented TCR-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3/zeta. Syk, but not Zap-70 alone, could also stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of a zeta-bearing chimera in transiently transfected Cos-1 cells. Finally, evidence was provided that Syk has the capacity to directly phosphorylate a zeta-derived peptide in vitro. These findings suggested that Syk may have a unique role in T cells, as a consequence of its ability to efficiently phosphorylate multiple components of the TCR signalling cascade. Furthermore, they raised the possibility that Syk can regulate the initiation of TCR signalling, by promoting phosphorylation of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs of the TCR complex.     

Fatigue behaviour characterization of the fibre-matrix interface

The fracture behaviour of FRP composite materials is significantly influenced by the behaviour of the fibre-matrix interfacial bond. Thus far interfacial bond mechanical characterization has been based upon the critical strength and critical fracture energy of debonding. Characterization of the fatigue behaviour of the interfacial debonding process, however, may be more valuable for composite design and fibre-matrix selection. A fracture mechanics model of interfacial bond fatigue based on the mode II strain energy release rate (G _II) is presented. An expression forG _II is derived for a single fibre in matrix cylinder model. By fitting the model to single fibre pull-out fatigue test data, fatigue crack propagation plots for specific fibre-matrix combinations can be drawn. These should prove useful for the development of fatigue resistant FRP composite materials.     

Visualizing adhesion-induced agglutination of Escherichia coli with mannosylated nanoparticles

Polymeric nanoparticles covalently functionalized with derivatized D-mannose molecules were synthesized and characterized. These nanoparticles have an average size of approximately 160 nm in diameter, thus bearing a large number of surface-tethered mannose moieties for multivalent interactions with adhesins on bacterial cells. Specifically, the mannosylated nanoparticles bind strongly with Escherichia coli, allowing the convenient visualization of adhesion interactions under a conventional electron microscope. Since a single nanoparticle is capable of binding more than one cell, the adhesion interactions result in significant nanoparticle-mediated cell agglutination according to electron microscopy imaging. Potential applications of the mannosylated nanoparticles in the inhibition of enteropathogenic infections are discussed.     

A validated high-voltage arrester model for transient network analyzer applications

This paper describes the development of a dynamic surge arrester model for use on a transient network analyzer to evaluate the arrester instantaneous voltage, current and total energy during conduction. Based on the results of duty-cycle tests, a model is proposed for which three sets of parameters were found to match three different makes of 72 kV arrester. The relative values of these parameters are discussed as well as a general set of parameters that could represent all three types of arrester.     

A new method for electrochemical screening basedon the rotating ring disc electrode and its applicationto oxygen reduction catalysts

A new method for electrochemical characterization of composite electrode materials is reported. A paste of the catalytic material in Nafion® is coated on a rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE) to partially simulate the working environment of a proton exchange membrane (PEM)/electrode composite as used in, for example, water electrolysis or PEM fuel cell operation. This allows direct comparison of a wide range of candidate electrocatalysts in a reproducible manner. Problems specific to these volumic electrodes are accommodated satisfactorily by rational modification of the standard expressions used in RRDE analysis. The value of the method is illustrated in studies of various cobalt complexes which show promise in dioxygen reduction; namely, cobalt tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin (CoTMPP), cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC), and cobalt cyclam (CoCy), supported on a range of particulate carbons BP2000, Printex XE 2 and Vulcan XC-72. Typical electrochemical parameters have been measured or estimated, including half-wave potentials (E1/2), Tafel slopes (b), activation currents (Ia) and the average number of electrons transferred (n). The nature of the complex itself and the carbon support have a strong influence on electrode behaviour. Ligands with more aromatic character give better performance. Dramatic improvements in performance result from heat pretreatment, which is tentatively attributed to the formation of dimeric cobalt species via thermally-induced aggregation. In terms of the four electron reduction (to water), the best result was obtained for CoTMPP on Printex XE2 and rationalized on the basis of popular current views on the mechanism and catalyst functionality. CoPC on BP2000 is unusual in showing a strong change in n with reduction potential. Product selectivity ranges between mainly hydrogen peroxide (n=2) and water (n=4) with increasing overpotential.     

Computerised structural analysis of zeolitic networks: Conceptualisation of a zeolite scene through graphs comparison

Summary Molecular modelling techniques have demonstrated their power as helpful tools in the design of molecular sieves. Seeking to automate and optimise this step of the design process in the field of zeolite structure-property relationship studies, we present a computerised procedure for the acquisition of the visual perception of a zeolite three-dimensional structure, and the interpretation of the structure in terms of elementary structural units. The memorisation of the visual perception in a semantic network form, the prospects for its chemical interpretation and its usefulness in an artificial intelligence-oriented structure-property study, as if a seeing computer, instead of the chemist, observes another computer screen, are presented.