Not all faces are processed equally: Evidence for featural rather than holistic processing of one's own face in a face-imaging task.

The present work considers the mental imaging of faces, with a focus in own-face imaging. Experiments 1 and 3 demonstrated an own-face disadvantage, with slower generation of mental images of one's own face than of other familiar faces. In contrast, Experiment 2 demonstrated that mental images of facial parts are generated more quickly for one's own face. Finally, Experiment 4 established that a bias toward local processing is advantageous for one's own face, whereas a global-processing bias produces an enhanced own-face disadvantage. The results suggest that own-face imaging is more synchronized with retrieval of face features and less attuned to a face's holistic pattern than is imaging of other people's faces. The authors propose that the salient information for own and other face identification reflects, in part, differences in the purpose and experiences (expertise) generally associated with processing of own and other faces. Consistent with work examining the range of face processing, including other-race faces, our results suggest that not all faces receive the same holistic emphasis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Joining carbon nanotubes

To fully exploit the exceptional electronic and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes in real-world applications, it is desirable to create carbon nanotube networks in which separate, multiple nanotubes are joined so that as many as possible of the properties of single nanotubes are conserved. In this review we summarize the progress made towards this goal, covering techniques including electron and ion beam irradiation, Joule heating and spark plasma sintering.     

Mapping micromechanical properties of soft polymer contact lenses

We present comparative micromechanical characterization of several commercial soft silicone hydrogel contact lenses, which allows for the examination of spatial distribution of different regions with local mechanical properties within the lens under practical wet conditions. We employ elastic contact mechanic model and corresponding analysis of force–distance curves collected with high-resolution atomic force microscopy measurements performed within elastic deformation limits. The measurements were performed on the lens cross section to map the micromechanical properties distribution within the sub-surface regions and bulk material of the different lens. In addition, we have studied topography and mechanical properties of the lens surfaces, which come into direct contact with the surface of the eye and eyelid. AFM images show high contrast distribution maps for the adhesive and mechanical properties of the different microstructured regions such as pores, lamellae and different material inclusions within the lenses. Additional indentation experiments allow for collection of quantitative data for micromechanical properties from different regions within the lens structure and correlate these data with lens-averaged macroscopic measurements available in the literature.     

Probiotic supplementation affects markers of intestinal barrier, oxidation, and inflammation in trained men; a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

Background

Probiotics are an upcoming group of nutraceuticals claiming positive effects on athlete??s gut health, redox biology and immunity but there is lack of evidence to support these statements.

Methods

We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial to observe effects of probiotic supplementation on markers of intestinal barrier, oxidation and inflammation, at rest and after intense exercise. 23 trained men received multi-species probiotics (10¹⁰ CFU/day, Ecologic?Performance or OMNi-BiOTiC?POWER, n?=?11) or placebo (n?=?12) for 14?weeks and performed an intense cycle ergometry over 90 minutes at baseline and after 14?weeks. Zonulin and ??1-antitrypsin were measured from feces to estimate gut leakage at baseline and at the end of treatment. Venous blood was collected at baseline and after 14?weeks, before and immediately post exercise, to determine carbonyl proteins (CP), malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidation status of lipids (TOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-??), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Statistical analysis used multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA). Level of significance was set at p?<?0.05, a trend at p?<?0.1.

Results

Zonulin decreased with supplementation from values slightly above normal into normal ranges (<30?ng/ml) and was significantly lower after 14?weeks with probiotics compared to placebo (p?=?0.019). We observed no influence on ??1-antitrypsin (p?>?0.1). CP increased significantly from pre to post exercise in both groups at baseline and in the placebo group after 14?weeks of treatment (p?=?0.006). After 14?weeks, CP concentrations were tendentially lower with probiotics (p?=?0.061). TOS was slightly increased above normal in both groups, at baseline and after 14?weeks of treatment. There was no effect of supplementation or exercise on TOS. At baseline, both groups showed considerably higher TNF-?? concentrations than normal. After 14?weeks TNF-?? was tendentially lower in the supplemented group (p?=?0.054). IL-6 increased significantly from pre to post exercise in both groups (p?=?0.001), but supplementation had no effect. MDA was not influenced, neither by supplementation nor by exercise.

Conclusions

The probiotic treatment decreased Zonulin in feces, a marker indicating enhanced gut permeability. Moreover, probiotic supplementation beneficially affected TNF-?? and exercise induced protein oxidation. These results demonstrate promising benefits for probiotic use in trained men.

Clinical trial registry

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT01474629     

Optimal design of sustainable cellulosic biofuel supply chains: Multiobjective optimization coupled with life cycle assessment and input–output analysis

This article addresses the optimal design and planning of cellulosic ethanol supply chains under economic, environmental, and social objectives. The economic objective is measured by the total annualized cost, the environmental objective is measured by the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, and the social objective is measured by the number of accrued local jobs. A multiobjective mixed‐integer linear programming (mo‐MILP) model is developed that accounts for major characteristics of cellulosic ethanol supply chains, including supply seasonality and geographical diversity, biomass degradation, feedstock density, diverse conversion pathways and byproducts, infrastructure compatibility, demand distribution, regional economy, and government incentives. Aspen Plus models for biorefineries with different feedstocks and conversion pathways are built to provide detailed techno‐economic and emission analysis results for the mo‐MILP model, which simultaneously predicts the optimal network design, facility location, technology selection, capital investment, production planning, inventory control, and logistics management decisions. The mo‐MILP problem is solved with an ε‐constraint method; and the resulting Pareto‐optimal curves reveal the tradeoff between the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of the sustainable biofuel supply chains. The proposed approach is illustrated through two case studies for the state of Illinois. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012     

Discovery of Ubonodin,an Antimicrobial Lasso Peptide Active against Members of the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

We report the heterologous expression, structure, and antimicrobial activity of a lasso peptide, ubonodin, encoded in the genome of Burkholderia ubonensis. The topology of ubonodin is unprecedented amongst lasso peptides, with 18 of its 28 amino acids found in the mechanically bonded loop segment. Ubonodin inhibits RNA polymerase in vitro and has potent antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic members of the Burkholderia genus, most notably B. cepacia and B. multivorans, causative agents of lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.     

The modification of indium tin oxide with phosphonic acids: mechanism of binding, tuning of surface properties, and potential for use in organic electronic applications

Transparent metal oxides, in particular, indium tin oxide (ITO), are critical transparent contact materials for applications in next-generation organic electronics, including organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Understanding and controlling the surface properties of ITO allows for the molecular engineering of the ITO-organic interface, resulting in fine control of the interfacial chemistries and electronics. In particular, both surface energy matching and work function compatibility at material interfaces can result in marked improvement in OLED and OPV performance. Although there are numerous ways to change the surface properties of ITO, one of the more successful surface modifications is the use of monolayers based on organic molecules with widely variable end functional groups. Phosphonic acids (PAs) are known to bind strongly to metal oxides and form robust monolayers on many different metal oxide materials. They also demonstrate several advantages over other functionalizing moieties such as silanes or carboxylic acids. Most notably, PAs can be stored in ambient conditions without degradation, and the surface modification procedures are typically robust and easy to employ. This Account focuses on our research studying PA binding to ITO, the tunable properties of the resulting surfaces, and subsequent effects on the performance of organic electronic devices. We have used surface characterization techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared reflection adsorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) to determine that PAs bind to ITO in a predominantly bidentate fashion (where two of three oxygen atoms from the PA are involved in surface binding). Modification of the functional R-groups on PAs allows us to control and tune the surface energy and work function of the ITO surface. In one study using fluorinated benzyl PAs, we can keep the surface energy of ITO relatively low and constant but tune the surface work function. PA modification of ITO has resulted in materials that are more stable and more compatible with subsequently deposited organic materials, an effective work function that can be tuned by over 1 eV, and energy barriers to hole injection (OLED) or hole-harvesting (OPV) that can be well matched to the frontier orbital energies of the organic active layers, leading to better overall device properties.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrophobic TMES/TEOS Based Silica Aerogels

The experimental results on the effect of adding trimethylethoxysilane (TMES) as a co-precursor on the hydrophobicity and physical properties of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) based silica aerogels, are reported. The molar ratio of TEOS, ethanol (EtOH), water (0.001 M oxalic acid catalyst) was kept constant at 1:5:7 respectively, while the molar ratio of TMES/TEOS (A) was varied from 0 to 0.6. It has been observed that as the A value increases, the gelation time increases. The hydrophobicity was tested by measuring the contact angle, and the surface chemical modification was confirmed by the FTIR spectroscopy studies. The thermal stability of the hydrophobic aerogels was studied in the temperature range from 25 to 800°C. The hydrophobic nature of the aerogel could be maintained up to a temperature of 287°C and above this temperature the aerogels become hydrophilic. The bulk density and the optical transmittance of the aerogels have been found to decrease with increase in A value. The aerogels have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Optical transmittance, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Contact angle measurements.     

Cold sintering process of Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 solid electrolyte

The recently developed technique of cold sintering process (CSP) enables densification of ceramics at low temperatures, i.e., <300°C. CSP employs a transient aqueous solvent to enable liquid phase‐assisted densification through mediating the dissolution‐precipitation process under a uniaxial applied pressure. Using CSP in this study, 80% dense Li_1.5Al_0.5Ge_1.5(PO₄)₃ (LAGP) electrolytes were obtained at 120°C in 20 minutes. After a 5 minute belt furnace treatment at 650°C, 50°C above the crystallization onset, Li‐ion conductivity was 5.4 × 10^?5 S/cm at 25°C. Another route to high ionic conductivities ~10^?4 S/cm at 25°C is through a composite LAGP ‐ (PVDF‐HFP) co‐sintered system that was soaked in a liquid electrolyte. After soaking 95, 90, 80, 70, and 60 vol% LAGP in 1 M LiPF₆ EC‐DMC (50:50 vol%) at 25°C, Li‐ion conductivities were 1.0 × 10^?4 S/cm at 25°C with 5 to 10 wt% liquid electrolyte. This paper focuses on the microstructural development and impedance contributions within solid electrolytes processed by (i) Crystallization of bulk glasses, (ii) CSP of ceramics, and (iii) CSP of ceramic‐polymer composites. CSP may offer a new route to enable multilayer battery technology by avoiding the detrimental effects of high temperature heat treatments.