Complex tasks for use in human problem-solving research.

Consideration is given to the use in human problem-solving research of measuring instruments, standard materials, and research techniques. 29 complex tasks, culled from the literature, are described, followed by several possibly useful task-attributes. Among the types of scores usable in problem-solving tasks are those that are easily quantifiable (success or failure, error scores, time scores), not as easily quantifiable (assistance scores, deficiency scores, elegance and neatness of the solution), and several types of qualitative scores. Problem solving and reasoning are wanting in not only theory, but also in the establishment of and prediction from dimensionable independent variables. 39 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Temperatures and Currents in a Stratified Lake: A Two-Dimensional Analysis

Two-dimensional, time-dependent numerical models are used to predict the temperatures and currents in a stratified lake. In this study, (1) essential features of the observed distributions of temperatures and currents in large, stratified lakes, especially Lake Erie, are reproduced, (2) the effects of various governing parameters such as heat flux to the water, wind stresses, and turbulence are examined, and (3) the effects of changes in various parameters appearing in the turbulent eddy coefficients are investigated. The emphasis is on the general characteristics of thermocline formation, maintenance, and decay and therefore the time scales of interest are weeks and months rather than hours or even days.     

High resolution, two-dimensional image mapping of ZnO nanowires by confocal microphotoluminescence and microraman spectroscopy

High-quality ZnO nanowires were synthesized using both Au catalysts and ZnO seeds by chemical vapor depositionon basal plane sapphire substrates. The nanowires were hexagonal and aligned with their c-axis closely perpendicular to the sapphire substrate surface. The structural characteristics of the nanowiresgrown using the different catalysts/seeds were compared using scanning electron microscopyand X-ray diffraction. Their optical properties were assessed using microphoto-luminescence and confocal microRaman spectroscopy and compared. The nanowires exhibited a strong near band-edge related UV luminescence emission along with a defect related visible emission. The dependence of the luminescence as a function of incident excitation power and depth along the axis of the nanowires was studied. The wurtzite structure of the ZnO was confirmed from the Raman measurements. Two-dimensional mappings of the microphotoluminescence emission at different wavelengths and microRaman scattering from the nanowire samples were carried out using a confocal laser scanning microscope. This enabled the ability to correlate the near band-edge UV and visible emissions over the mapped area.     

Hot Backup for a Programmable Controller

A standard product which provides a highly available programmable controller is described. The system has no impact on the application programmer and features the ability to have a failed portion of the system replaced without stopping its operation.     

Proceedings of the American Psychological Association, Incorporated, for the year 1970: Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council of Representatives. September 6, 1970 Miami Beach, Florida and October 3 and 4 1970 Washington, D.C.

Presents the minutes of the 1970 American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives. The Council of Representatives met in Miami Beach, Florida on September 6, 1970 at the APA Annual Convention, and again in Washington, D.C., on October 3 and 4. These minutes constitute the official record of actions of the Association taken during the year. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coiled‐Coil‐Mediated Activation of Oligoarginine Cell‐Penetrating Peptides

A supramolecular approach was undertaken to create functionally activatable cell‐penetrating peptides. Two tetra‐arginines were assembled into an active cell‐penetrating peptide by heterodimerizing leucine zippers. Three different leucine‐zipper pairs were evaluated: activation was found to depend on the association constant of the coiled‐coil peptides. The weaker‐binding peptides required an additional disulfide linkage to induce cell‐penetrating capability, whereas for the most‐stable coiled‐coil no additional stabilization was needed. The latter zipper pair was used to show that the induced formation of the coiled coils allows control over the uptake of an oligoarginine CPP‐conjugated cargo protein.     

Development of a locally sustainable functional food based on mutandabota,a traditional food in southern Africa

A probiotic dairy product was developed on the basis of a traditional dish called mutandabota to enable resource-poor populations in southern Africa to benefit from a functional food. Mutandabota is widely consumed in rural southern Africa, making it an ideal food matrix to carry probiotics. First, a process to produce probiotic mutandabota was designed. Raw cow milk was boiled and subsequently cooled to ambient temperature (25°C). Next, dry pulp from the fruit of the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) was added to the milk at a concentration of 4% (wt/vol). This mixture was inoculated with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus yoba and left to ferment for 24 h, while the growth of the bacterial culture was monitored. Final ingredients were then added to produce probiotic mutandabota that had 14% (wt/vol) baobab fruit pulp and 7% (wt/vol) sugar in cow milk. The pH of probiotic mutandabota was pH 3.5, which ensures that the product is microbiologically safe. The viable plate count of L. rhamnosus yoba increased from 5.8 ± 0.3 log cfu/mL at the point of inoculation to 8.8 ± 0.4 log cfu/mL at the moment of consumption, thereby meeting the criterion to have a viable count of the probiotic bacterium in excess of 6 log cfu/mL of a product. Baobab fruit pulp at 4% promoted growth of L. rhamnosus yoba with a maximal specific growth rate (μ_max) of 0.6 ± 0.2/h at 30°C. The developed technology, though specific for this particular product, has potential to be applied for the delivery of probiotics through a variety of indigenous foods in different regions of the world. Upon consumption, probiotic mutandabota is expected to improve the population's intestinal health, which is especially relevant for vulnerable target groups such as children and elderly people.