On the correlation between T<Subscript>2</Subscript> and tissue diffusion coefficients in exercised muscle: quantitative measurements at 3T within the tibialis anterior

PURPOSE: To assess the transverse relaxation time T(2) and diffusion coefficient D before and following exercise in the tibialis anterior muscle and determine whether T(2) and D values were correlated. METHODS: Measurements of T(2) and D were performed at 3 T within axial slices through the calf muscles of six healthy volunteers at 95 s intervals before and for 10-12 min after a dorsiflexion exercise to exhaustion. RESULTS: The mean +/- standard deviation (SD) of T(2) and D before exercise were 32 +/- 1.55 ms and 1.52 +/- 0.15 mum(2)/ms, and after exercise were 43 +/- 2.5 ms and 1.72 +/- 0.13 mum(2)/ms, respectively. The mean +/- SD inter-individual recovery times of the % change in T(2) and D after exercise were 7.9 +/- 4.2 and 10.9 +/- 7.0 min, respectively. The T(2) and D values showed a significant correlation throughout the experiments (r (2) = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in T(2) of skeletal muscle after exercise is correlated with the increase of the diffusion coefficient D and the recovery times appear similar, indicating that any model used to explain T(2) increases with exercise must also account for increased diffusion coefficients.     

Better learning with more error: Probabilistic feedback increases sensitivity to correlated cues in categorization.

Despite the fact that categories are often composed of correlated features, the evidence that people detect and use these correlations during intentional category learning has been overwhelmingly negative to date. Nonetheless, on other categorization tasks, such as feature prediction, people show evidence of correlational sensitivity. A conventional explanation holds that category learning tasks promote rule use, which discards the correlated-feature information, whereas other types of category learning tasks promote exemplar storage, which preserves correlated-feature information. Contrary to that common belief, the authors report 2 experiments that demonstrate that using probabilistic feedback in an intentional categorization task leads to sensitivity to correlations among nondiagnostic cues. Deterministic feedback eliminates correlational sensitivity by focusing attention on relevant cues. Computational modeling reveals that exemplar storage coupled with selective attention is necessary to explain this effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bubble Movement in Downward-Inclined Pipes

An experimental investigation with large-scale model tests of bubbles moving upward and downward in downward-inclined pipes is presented. The shape, velocity, and drag coefficient of single nonspherical air bubbles in continuous air-water flows are discussed. The bubble height depends mainly on the approach flow water velocity and the pipe slope. For stagnant bubbles, the bubble height is determined depending on these two parameters. Equilibrium of the drag and buoyancy forces is applied on single air bubbles in downward-inclined pipes. In pipes with pipe slope ranging from 0.052–0.087, the bubble drag coefficient is independent of the bubble Reynolds number. However, the bubble drag coefficient depends on the pipe slope and the approach flow water velocity. Using the approach of the equilibrium of the main forces the volume of stagnant bubbles can be predicted.     

Modeling the Behavior of Flow Regulating Devices in Water Distribution Systems Using Constrained Nonlinear Programming

Currently the modeling of check valves and flow control valves in water distribution systems is based on heuristics intermixed with solving the set of nonlinear equations governing flow in the network. At the beginning of a simulation, the operating status of these valves is not known and must be assumed. The system is then solved. The status of the check valves and flow control valves are then changed to try to determine their correct operating status, at times leading to incorrect solutions even for simple systems. This paper proposes an entirely different approach. Content and co-content theory is used to define conditions that guarantee the existence and uniqueness of the solution. The work here focuses solely on flow control devices with a defined head discharge versus head loss relationship. A new modeling approach for water distribution systems based on subdifferential analysis that deals with the nondifferentiable flow versus head relationships is proposed in this paper. The water distribution equations are solved as a constrained nonlinear programming problem based on the content model where the Lagrangian multipliers have important physical meanings. This new method gives correct solutions by dealing appropriately with inequality and equality constraints imposed by the presence of the flow regulating devices (check valves, flow control valves, and temporarily closed isolating valves). An example network is used to illustrate the concepts.     

Personality scale validities increase throughout medical school.

Admissions and personnel decisions rely on stable predictor–criterion relationships. The authors studied the validity of Big Five personality factors and their facets for predicting academic performance in medical school across multiple years, investigating whether criterion-related validities change over time. In this longitudinal investigation, an entire European country’s 1997 cohort of medical students was studied throughout their medical school career (Year 1, N = 627; Year 7, N = 306). Over time, extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness factor and facet scale scores showed increases in operational validity for predicting grade point averages. Although there may not be any advantages to being open and extraverted for early academic performance, these traits gain importance for later academic performance when applied practice increasingly plays a part in the curriculum. Conscientiousness, perhaps more than any other personality trait, appears to be an increasing asset for medical students: Operational validities of conscientiousness increased from .18 to .45. In assessing the utility of personality measures, relying on early criteria might underestimate the predictive value of personality variables. Implications for personality measures to predict work performance are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Matrix‐Based Encapsulation of Construction Chemicals Using High‐Shear Agglomeration

Encapsulation of dry superplasticizers in matrix‐based encapsulation systems was investigated. As basic material, commercially available fly ash was granulated by high‐shear agglomeration. Due to a high variability of factors affecting the encapsulation process and later release of admixtures, the design‐of‐experiments method was applied to reduce the quantity of experiments. Statistical evaluation indicates that the particle characteristics of the agglomerates were mostly influenced by the binder viscosity during the investigations. The delayed admixture release was enhanced by high binder viscosity and low energy input during the agglomeration process due to a coating of the bigger superplasticizer particles by the smaller fly ash. These results will help to develop encapsulated construction chemicals with controlled admixture delivery for the future application in a wide range of different building materials.     

On experimental methods to investigate the effect of layer thickness on the fracture behavior of adhesively bonded joints

A number of different experimental methods are used at two independent laboratories to evaluate the influence of layer thickness on the fracture properties of one batch of a crash resistant epoxy adhesive. Both mode I and II are considered. Novel, as well as state of the art methods are used. In mode I, the Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) and two versions of the Tapered Double Cantilever Beam (TDCB) specimens are utilized; in mode II, two versions of the End Notch Flexure (ENF) and the End-Loaded Shear Joint (ELSJ) specimens are used. Good agreement between the test results is achieved for thin layers in both fracture modes. For thicker layers the variation is larger.     

Selective Catalytic Reductions of Amides and Nitriles to Amines

This personal account summarizes our recent developments of catalytic hydrosilylations and hydrogenations of carboxylic amides and nitriles to selectively give amines. Special focus is given to highly chemoselective iron- and zinc-catalyzed reductions of amides.