Reading ability and semantic processing: Isolating speed of access.

Although much attention has focused on the efficiency of access to semantic information as a determinant of reading ability, previous research has confounded information access and decision processes. The authors used a matching task to study the time course of semantic access among college students. They studied the time course of processing by varying the stimulus onset between the two members of a stimulus pair. Semantic encoding functions obtained from this paradigm were used to isolate semantic access from the decision component of the matching task. Regression analyses indicated that the often-obtained correlation between speed of semantic processing and measures of reading ability is based on unique contributions from both semantic access and decision processes. The results undermine the hypothesis that the efficiency of access to semantic codes is a relatively age-variant contributor to individual differences in reading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The observers and the observed: The effects of doing ratings on staff-patient contact patterns.

On a research ward where nursing personnel have both research and clinical responsibilities, the effect of staff's rating of patients' behavior on frequency of contacts was assessed. Percentages of staff's contacts with patients and with other staff were compared on days when the staff was doing the ratings with days when it was not. There were no differences in the percentage of interactions with patients on rating and nonrating days. There were more interactions with staff on rating days. This finding suggests that although doing rating did not interfere with patient-staff relations, the increase in staff-staff contacts might be due to rating staff obtaining more information upon which to base their ratings by talking to other staff members. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

SULFUR CAPTURE DURING PARTIAL COAL COMBUSTION

A coal-water slurry is an econonical substitute for premium liquid fuels, but the amount of sulfur in coal is usually higher than in petroleum liquids. Lime has been used to capture sulfur in fluidized coal combustion as CaSO₄, but the latter decomposes above 1273 K. We report here on the possible capture of sulfur in the ash as CaS, which has higher thermal stability than CaSO₄. This can be accomplished using a fuel-rich first stage in a coal-water slurry combustor, or under the conditions normally encountered in some coal gasifiers. Thermodynamic calculations and some preliminary experiments suggest that the concept is promising for effective sulfur removal and, by extension, for NO_x, control.     

Designing Assemblies

This paper presents a theory to support the design of assemblies. It brings together prior work in a new synthesis, resulting in a top-down process for designing assemblies so that they deliver geometric Key Characteristics (KCs) that achieve top level customer requirements. The theory applies to assemblies that take the form of mechanisms (e.g. engines) or structures (e.g. aircraft fuselages), but has less relevance to assemblies that take the form of connective or distributive systems (e.g. hydraulic piping). The theory shows how kinematically constrained (statically determinate) assemblies can be unambiguously designed to satisfy geometrically-defined customer requirements. The top-down process presented here begins by creating a kinematic constraint structure and a systematic scheme by which parts are located in space relative to each other, followed by declaration of assembly features that join parts in such a way as to create the desired constraint relationships. This process captures design intent by creating a connective data model that contains information to support relevant analyses such as variation buildup, constraint analysis, and establishment of constraint-consistent assembly sequences. Adjustable assemblies, assemblies built using fixtures, and selective assemblies can also be described by this theory. Problems arising from multiple KCs and KC conflict can be identified. Issues unresolved by the theory are also noted.     

Elevated Temperature Evaluation of Fretting and Metal Transfer between Coated Titanium Components

During fretting, small amplitude displacements and high normal surface loads combined with abrasive oxide particles cause surface damage that acts as initiation sites for fatigue cracks. Since these conditions are prevalent within the titanium dovetail joints of jet engines a wear mode analysis was performed on extended service jet engine disks and compressor blades. The results of the wear mode analysis indicated that titanium from the uncoated disk was transferred to the softer copper-nickel-indium coated dovetail surface of the blades. This transfer created titanium on titanium contact and eventually fretting wear. In order to simulate these conditions, a moderate displacement (125 μm), low cycle phase followed by a small displacement (25 μm), high cycle fretting phase utilizing a cylinder on flat configuration was developed. The analysis and test procedure developed during this study will ultimately aid in the selection and evaluation of a new coating capable of preventing fretting.     

A transmembrane-anchored chimeric focal adhesion kinase is constitutively activated and phosphorylated at tyrosine residues identical to pp125FAK

Focal adhesion kinase, pp125FAK, is a nonmyristylated cytosolic tyrosine kinase unrelated to protein-tyrosine kinase families categorized to date. The kinase activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK are induced by beta 1 and beta 3 integrin-mediated cell adherence or aggregation. pp125FAK is also a tyrosine phosphorylation substrate in v-src-transformed cells and is localized to focal adhesion contracts of adherent fibroblasts and carcinoma cells. In this report, we have transiently expressed in COS cells a transmembrane-anchored chimeric receptor kinase, CD2FAK, consisting of CD2 and pp125FAK. We analyzed its kinase activity and tyrosine phosphorylation and compared to those of pp125FAK. We found that CD2FAK exhibited constitutive kinase activity and a high basal tyrosine phosphorylation level when COS transfectants were suspended in serum-free media. The kinase activity of CD2FAK was similarly up-regulated upon beta 1 integrin-mediated cell adherence as the endogenous pp125FAK. Both CD2FAK and pp125FAK appeared to be active as autophosphorylating kinases as shown by mutation of the ATP binding site. We determined the major tyrosine phosphorylation site, Tyr397, identical for both the constitutively activated CD2FAK and pp125FAK in response to beta 1 integrin-mediated cell adherence by site-directed mutagenesis. Deletions of the NH2- or the COOH-terminal noncatalytic domain of FAK, including Tyr397 did not lead to abolition of the kinase activity of pp125FAK or CD2FAK. Taken together, CD2FAK exhibits properties of an activated pp125FAK and the kinase activity does not appear to require tyrosine phosphorylation in vitro or in vivo.     

Establishing the social impact of individuation.

The present research examined relations between individuation, the willingness to publicly differentiate oneself from others, and three dimensions that may lead to high social impact: creativity, leadership, and nonverbal expressiveness. Study 1 describes the development of a Q-sort prototype of the high individuator. In Study 2 the prototype was used to construct a new measure of individuation; individuation showed predicted relations with creativity, leadership, and nonverbal expressiveness. In Study 3 the prototype measure was used to examine the behavioral expression of individuation within the context of a combined managerial and personality assessment center. High individuators engaged in more creativity, leadership, and nonverbal expressiveness; they were more willing to express dissenting opinions; and they contributed more to a group discussion task than did low individuators. The results clarify the link between high individuation and high social impact. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)