Visual search asymmetries within color-coded and intensity-coded displays.

Color and intensity coding provide perceptual cues to segregate categories of objects within a visual display, allowing operators to search more efficiently for needed information. Even within a perceptually distinct subset of display elements, however, it may often be useful to prioritize items representing urgent or task-critical information. The design of symbology to produce search asymmetries (Treisman & Souther, 1985) offers a potential technique for doing this, but it is not obvious from existing models of search that an asymmetry observed in the absence of extraneous visual stimuli will persist within a complex color- or intensity-coded display. To address this issue, in the current study we measured the strength of a visual search asymmetry within displays containing color- or intensity-coded extraneous items. The asymmetry persisted strongly in the presence of extraneous items that were drawn in a different color (Experiment 1) or a lower contrast (Experiment 2) than the search-relevant items, with the targets favored by the search asymmetry producing highly efficient search. The asymmetry was attenuated but not eliminated when extraneous items were drawn in a higher contrast than search-relevant items (Experiment 3). Results imply that the coding of symbology to exploit visual search asymmetries can facilitate visual search for high-priority items even within color- or intensity-coded displays. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of proteomic analysis to renal disease in the clinic

Chronic kidney disease accounts for a significant portion of many national health-care budgets. In this viewpoint, we highlight recent advances in urinary proteomic analyses that potentially may soon enhance the care of afflicted patients. To achieve this goal, cooperation of interdisciplinary teams from around the world will be vital, so as to standardize methodology for preparation urine samples and technical aspects of the analyses, and for better application of results. These collaborative activities will facilitate translational research in kidney diseases.     

Snow Entrainment Coefficient Estimated by Field Observations and Wind Tunnel Experiments

The boundary condition for concentration of snow particles at the bed is necessary to calculate snowdrifts by a numerical analysis model. The flux type or the gradient type boundary conditions are reasonable. An idea of an entrainment coefficient of snow particle at the snow surface is useful. The values of the coefficient are considered to be a function of the density and viscosity of the working fluid and the properties of snow particles. In this paper, the values of the coefficient are estimated based on the k–ε turbulence model and the distribution of snow particle flux observed at the Mizuho Station, Antarctica in 2000, assuming the steady, fully developed flow over a flat snow surface. The snow entrainment coefficient is two or three orders smaller than the sand entrainment coefficient in a river. The reason is that the specific weight of snow particles in air is much larger than that of sand particles in water.     

Dehydrogenative polycondensation of telechelically bis(dimethylsilyl)functionalized oligo(dimethylsiloxane)s or aromatics and 1,3,3,5,5,7,7,7-octamethyltetrasiloxane

Telechelically bis(hydrodimethylsilyl)-functionalized oligo(dimethylsiloxane)s or aromatics were found to give polymers constituting of alternating disilylene and oligodimethylsiloxane or 4,4′-diylaromatics as repeating units by dehydrogenative coupling reaction in the presence of palladium dibenzylideneacetone complex. The same catalyst gave polysilylenes with trisiloxane pendant from 1,1-dihydro-1,3,3,5,5,7,7,7-octamethyltetrasiloxane. Received: 18 October 1996/Accepted: 31 October 1996     

Accumulation of Arsenic and Copper by Bryophytes Growing in an Aquatic Environment near Copper Mine Tailings

Bryophytes with high As accumulation affinity were identified in the aquatic environment. We surveyed a stream near copper mine tailings and then conducted laboratory experiments to confirm As accumulation in the bryophytes with high As affinity. We found that a moss, Scopelophila cataractae, accumulates As in addition to Cu in aquatic environments and confirmed it in laboratory experiments. The highest value for As in S. cataractae from the field survey was 1300 mg/kg dry weight at relatively low As concentrations in the stream water (0.005 mg/L). In addition, Brachythecium plumosum and Rhynchostegium riparioides may also be useful bryophytes for accumulation of Cu and As, though the mechanisms of As accumulation might differ between these two bryophytes and S. cataractae.     

CFD analysis of a high‐speed unsteady jet

The flow of a high‐speed unsteady jet is analyzed using computational fluid dynamics for an incompressible flow with the k–ε turbulence model. The pseudo‐nozzle concept is applied to the inlet condition with a large pressure gradient. The results show that the time history of the jet development agrees with the experimental data for methane and hydrogen fuels. In addition, the effect of the injection condition on the development of the jet tip is well described with this model. Furthermore, the effects of inlet conditions of the turbulence intensity and scale on the flow are investigated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 36(1): 1– 12, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20141     

Optical properties of C60/a-C superlattice structures for solar cell applications

C₆₀/amorphous carbon superlattice structures were fabricated by shutter-controlled molecular beam deposition. The periodic structure of resulted films was confirmed by X-ray diffraction measurements. From the UV–vis reflectance/transmittance measurements, the energy shift of absorption edge was observed in the superlattice structures as a function of their well width. The carbon-based superlattice structure is the useful technique to control the band gap energy of carbon materials.     

Liquefaction and dechlorination of hydrothermally treated waste mixture containing plastics with glass powder

Additive effects of glass powder upon the product yields and chlorine distribution after liquefaction of hydrothermally pretreated mixed waste (HMW) are compared with liquefaction of HMW with any one of water, quartz sand, or glass powder plus water. As a result, addition of either water or quartz sand did not affect liquefaction and dechlorination of HMW. Further, water (5 g) addition did not enhance liquefaction and dechlorination of HMW with glass powder. On the other hand, after liquefaction of HMW with glass powder, the yields of chlorine in the gas and water insoluble constituents decreased and the chlorine yield in the water-soluble constituent increased significantly. Because sodium in glass powder dissolved in a small amount (0.5 g) of water resulted from dehydration of HMW during liquefaction. Further, hydrogen chloride derived from polyvinylchloride in HMW was neutralized by ion exchange between H(+) and Na(+) dissolved in a small amount of water forming NaCl in the Residue (water-soluble) constituent. Therefore, most of chlorine in HMW was removed easily by water extraction of the Residue constituent after liquefaction of HMW with glass powder. Further, upgrading of HMW into the oil constituent was enhanced due to inhibition of production of chlorine containing organic compounds. Accordingly, it was clarified that glass powder was the most effective additive for liquefaction and dechlorination of HMW.     

Effect of Hypoxia on Pulmonary Endothelial Cells from Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis Model Mice

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and fatal disorder characterized by dysregulated repair after recurrent injury. Destruction of the lung architecture with excess extracellular matrix deposition induces respiratory failure with hypoxia and progressive dyspnea. The impact of hypoxia on pulmonary endothelial cells during pulmonary fibrogenesis is unclear. Using a magnetic-activated cell sorting system, pulmonary endothelial cells were isolated from a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheally administered bleomycin. When endothelial cells were exposed to hypoxic conditions, a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α protein was detected in CD31- and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive cells. Levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, von Willebrand factor, and matrix metalloproteinase 12 were increased in endothelial cells isolated from bleomycin-treated mice exposed to hypoxic conditions. When endothelial cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions, levels of fibrotic mediators, transforming growth factor-β and connective tissue growth factor, were elevated only in endothelial cells from bleomycin-treated and not from saline-treated lungs. The increased expression of α-SMA and mesenchymal markers and collagen production in bleomycin- or hypoxia-stimulated endothelial cells were further elevated in endothelial cells from bleomycin-treated mouse lungs cultured under hypoxic conditions. Exposure to hypoxia damaged endothelial cells and enhanced fibrogenesis-related damage in bleomycin-treated pulmonary endothelial cells.