Infant attention and visual preferences: Converging evidence from behavior, event-related potentials, and cortical source localization.

In this study, we had 3 major goals. The 1st goal was to establish a link between behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) measures of infant attention and recognition memory. To assess the distribution of infant visual preferences throughout ERP testing, we designed a new experimental procedure that embeds a behavioral measure (paired comparison trials) in the modified-oddball ERP procedure. The 2nd goal was to measure infant ERPs during the paired comparison trials. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to identify and to remove eye-movement components from the electroencephalographic data, thus allowing for the analysis of ERP components during paired comparison trials. The 3rd goal was to localize the cortical sources of infant visual preferences. Equivalent current dipole analysis was performed on the ICA components related to experimental events. Infants who demonstrated novelty preferences in paired comparison trials demonstrated greater amplitude Negative central ERP components across tasks than infants who did not demonstrate novelty preferences. Visual preference also interacted with attention and stimulus type. The cortical sources of infant visual preferences were localized to inferior and superior prefrontal cortex and to the anterior cingulate cortex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

成功演示六要素——《演说之禅：职场必知的幻灯片秘技》节选

随着微软Office办公软件一统天下,可以说我们进入了一个幻灯片的时代。从公司的会议室到大学的教室,几乎随处可见在幻灯片前侃侃而谈的演讲人。幻灯片越来越成为我们工作生活的一部分。但随着人们对幻灯片的依赖不断加大,人们也有了新的烦恼。每个人都在为如     

Dimensions of impulsive behavior in adolescent smokers and nonsmokers.

Robust associations have been identified between impulsive personality characteristics and cigarette smoking during adolescents, indicating that impulsive behavior may play an important role in the initiation of cigarette smoking. The present study extended this research by using laboratory behavioral assessments to explore relationships between three specific dimensions of impulsive behavior (impulsive decision-making, inattention, and disinhibition) and adolescent cigarette smoking. Participants were male and female adolescent smokers (n = 50) and nonsmokers (n = 50). Adolescent smokers were more impulsive on a measure of decision-making; however, there were significant smoking status by gender interaction effects for impulsive inattention and disinhibition. Male smokers were most impulsive on the measure of inattention, but male smokers were least impulsive on the measure of disinhibition. Correlations between biomarkers of smoking and impulsive inattention and disinhibition were found for females but not males. The current findings, coupled with previous findings (Reynolds et al., 2007), indicate there may be robust gender difference in associations between certain types of impulsive behavior and cigarette smoking during adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antioxidant capacity of 3D human skin EpiDermTM model: effects of skin moisturizers

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of skin moisturizers on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of human skin using EpiDerm^TM model. Three different skin moisturizers containing antioxidant ingredients (samples 1–3) or aloe vera extract were topically applied to EpiDerm^TM units and incubated for 2 and 24 h to determine acute and longer-term effects of applied samples on TAC and glutathione peroxidase activity in medium and/or homogenized skin tissues. Total antioxidant capacity in medium and skin homogenates was enhanced ( P  < 0.0001) by gel containing antioxidant ingredients (sample 2) after 2 and 24 h of incubation. Total antioxidant capacity in medium was also enhanced ( P  < 0.001) by cream containing antioxidant ingredients (sample 3) after 24 h of incubation. Overall, TAC in medium was greater ( P  < 0.02) after 24 h than 2 h of incubation. Skin moisturizer cream with high antioxidant levels determined by using oxygen radical absorbance capacity testing (sample 1) and aloe vera extract did not affect TAC. Glutathione peroxidase activity was enhanced ( P  < 0.0001) in medium and skin homogenates by sample 2 but not by any other sample. These data demonstrate high potential of gel and cream (samples 2 and 3) containing antioxidant ingredients in enhancing antioxidant capacity of EpiDerm^TM which will likely contribute to overall skin health. Results of this experiment will help to better understand mechanisms of effects of skin moisturizers containing antioxidant ingredients on skin function at the tissue level and to establish effective strategies for skin protection and clinical treatments of skin disorders and possibly healing wounds.     

The role of ECL2 in CGRP receptor activation: a combined modelling and experimental approach

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor is a complex of a calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), which is a family B G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and receptor activity modifying protein 1. The role of the second extracellular loop (ECL2) of CLR in binding CGRP and coupling to Gs was investigated using a combination of mutagenesis and modelling. An alanine scan of residues 271–294 of CLR showed that the ability of CGRP to produce cAMP was impaired by point mutations at 13 residues; most of these also impaired the response to adrenomedullin (AM). These data were used to select probable ECL2-modelled conformations that are involved in agonist binding, allowing the identification of the likely contacts between the peptide and receptor. The implications of the most likely structures for receptor activation are discussed.     

Human Jumping and Bobbing Forces on Flexible Structures: Effect of Structural Properties

The behavior of humans jumping and bobbing on flexible structures has become a matter of some concern for both structural integrity and human tolerance. The issue is of great importance for a number of structure types including stadia terraces. A unique test rig has been developed for exploring the forces, accelerations, and displacements that occur when a human subject jumps or bobs on a flexible structure where motion can be perceived. In tests reported earlier, it was found that the subject is able to generate near resonant structural response but it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to jump or bob at or very near to the natural frequency of the structure when its vertical motion is significant. Also, under such near-resonant conditions, the force developed by the subject was found to drop significantly. In this paper, the effect of altering the subject-to-structure mass ratio and the damping ratio of the structure on these phenomena is presented. As would be expected, it is shown that as the structure becomes more massive and more highly damped it moves less for nominally the same excitation. In this situation, it becomes easier to jump and bob near to resonance and the degree of force dropout reduces, although it is still significant for even the most massive and highly damped case considered. A method for including these effects of human-structure interaction in a load model for dynamic response calculations is then proposed.     

Characterizing mixing and lubrication in the Bohle Bin blender

Mixing and transport of a cohesive powder are experimentally characterized in a laboratory-scale Bohle Bin blender. The cohesive powder is a blend of Avicel, lactose, and magnesium stearate (MgSt). The effects of vessel fill level, rotational speed, mixing time, and the presence of baffles on mixing are characterized by quantifying MgSt distribution using Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Results show that the relative standard deviation (RSD) decays faster (on a per revolution basis) and further (lower plateau) at higher rotational speeds. This result indicates a dependence of mixing of cohesive materials on shear. We find that fill level has a strong impact on mixing rate; the higher the fill level, the slower the mixing. Segregated regions are observed at the center of the blender for high fill levels at low rotational speeds. The presence of baffles seems to hinder mixing; the RSD decays are slower and leveled at a higher plateau when baffles are used. Concentration profiles data shows that, at high fill levels, baffles promoted the formation of segregated region at the center of the mixer.     

REACTION KINETICS FOR OLEFIN HYDROGENATION OVER COBALT-MOLYBDENUM HYDROTREATING CATALYST AND MODEL STUDY OF CATALYST PROPERTIES

ABSTRACT

Over the years, several analytical methods have been applied to various heavy crude oil residua and their processed products to understand the chemistry behind residuum upgrading processes. The ultimate aim has been to predict prccessability of specific feeds. However, few, if any analytical methods have been found which adequately perform this task. This paper examines selected processing experiments by the following techniques – clusion chromatography with element specific detection, D 2007-80 with as-phaltene precipitation (SARA) separation, hydrogen distribution and incorporation by NMR – cusses whether the analytical technique has any potential to predict prccessability

From the size exclusion chromatography with element specific detection studies, an intimate relationship appears between the catalyst pore size and molecule size based on examination of the size behavior of feeds and pilot-plant products. From the D 2007-80 and asphaltene separations, the quality of asphaltenes appears to be related to the relative ease of processability of at least two different feeds. From the hydrogen distribution studies, hydrogen utilization was found to be feed dependent and could be directed by processing type. All these trends have some potential towards the formulation of a residuum processability scheme, however no method is as yet globally satisfactory.     

Convergent and discriminant validity of three measures of stage of change.

The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (E. A. McConnaughy, J. O. Prochaska, & W. F. Velicer, 1983), the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (W. R. Miller & J. S. Tonigan, 1996), and the Readiness to Change Questionnaire (S. Rollnick, N. Heather, R. Gold, & W. Hall, 1992) are commonly used multidimensional measures of stage of change. The authors examined the convergent and discriminant validity of drug-use versions of these 3 measures through multitrait-multimethod analysis in a population of indigent, out-of-treatment drug users (N = 377). Agreement in stage-of-change assignment and the relationship between stage of change and drug-use behaviors were also examined. Confirmatory factor analysis suggests that the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale may have questionable convergent validity with the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment and Readiness to Change Questionnaire. There was moderate agreement in stage assignment. Analysis of behavior did provide some support for the construct validity of the measures. The results suggest that these drug-use stage-of-change measures may not be equivalent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Labeling of Phosphatidylinositol Lipid Products in Cells through Metabolic Engineering by Using a Clickable myo-Inositol Probe

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) lipids control critical biological processes, so aberrant biosynthesis often leads to disease. As a result, the capability to track the production and localization of these compounds in cells is vital for elucidating their complex roles. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and application of clickable myo-inositol probe 1 a for bioorthogonal labeling of PI products. To validate this platform, we initially conducted PI synthase assays to show that 1 a inhibits PI production in vitro. Fluorescence microscopy experiments next showed probe-dependent imaging in T-24 human bladder cancer and Candida albicans cells. Growth studies in the latter showed that replacement of myo-inositol with probe 1 a led to an enhancement in cell growth. Finally, fluorescence-based TLC analysis and mass spectrometry experiments support the labeling of PI lipids. This approach provides a promising means for tracking the complex biosynthesis and trafficking of these lipids in cells.