Semantic priming and Stroop-like interference in word-naming tasks.

Three studies with 72 undergraduates examined why a semantic relation between relevant and irrelevant stimulus components facilitates performance in priming tasks but seems to inhibit performance in Stroop-like tasks. In a series of word-naming tasks, the effect of number of semantic domains (varied concomitantly with number of response alternatives) was examined by presenting to Ss an identical set of stimuli either blocked or mixed. Exp I showed that blocked presentation yielded Stroop-like interference, whereas mixed presentation yielded semantic facilitation. Exps II and III showed that the word–word variant of the Stroop task and the word-naming variant of the semantic priming task belonged to 1 family of tasks. Both tasks showed a facilitation effect when the prime was related to the target and an interference effect when the prime was a member of the response set. In the Stroop task, response competition outweighed facilitation; in the priming task, semantic facilitation outweighed response competition. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between acculturation orientations and work-related well-being: Differences between ethnic minority and majority employees.

Today's organizations are becoming more and more ethnically diverse. It is important to understand what constitutes the well-being of ethnic minority employees. This study explored the extent to which acculturation orientations (assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization) were related to the well-being of 79 ethnic minority and 124 ethnic majority employees working in two different organizations. In line with predictions based on social identity theory and the acculturative stress paradigm, results showed that an integration orientation relates positively to work-related well-being, whereas a marginalization attitude relates negatively to well-being. Moreover, the relationship between acculturation orientations and work-related well-being is much stronger for ethnic minority employees than it is for ethnic majority employees. The findings underline the need to take cultural issues into account when studying well-being in culturally diverse organizations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thermal,mechanical, and water vapor barrier behavior of polypropylene composite containing modified kaolinite

Polypropylene composites containing modified kaolinite were prepared using melt processing and the morphological, thermal, mechanical and their water barrier properties were analyzed. To improve compatibility with polypropylene, kaolinite was modified with silane as a coupling agent. Characterization techniques (X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy) confirmed the effective grafting of these compounds on the surface and edges of the kaolinite with no functionalization on the inner surface. The differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffraction techniques demonstrated that the addition of grafted kaolinite affected the iPP crystallinity. The thermogravimetric analysis helped to determine the thermal stability of the composites, being this, dependent on the amount of kaolinite and silane. The stress–strain tests demonstrated an increase in Young's modulus and obtained a 70% reduction in water vapor permeation. These improvements were mainly related to the increased compatibility between the iPP/Kaol interfaces promoted by the silane. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45785.     

The locus of orthographic-phonological facilitation: Reply to Roelofs, Meyer, and Levelt (1996).

In their comment, A. Roelofs, A. S. Meyer, and W. J. M. Levelt (see record 1997-06337-001) argued that serial-access language production models predict an interaction between semantic and orthographic-phonological variables in picture–word tasks. In this reply, the authors first show that this position conflicts with Roelofs et al.'s previous work and conclude that the model presented in the comment is a modification of Roelofs' (1992a, 1992b) original model. Next, they present 3 arguments against this new model. First, Roelofs et al. did not provide independent empirical evidence in favor of their modification. Second, contrary to Roelofs et al.'s prediction, the reduction of semantic interference appears to be independent of the percentage of shared orthography. Third, Roelofs et al.'s model predicts early phonological effects of spoken-word distractors, a prediction that is refuted by time-course data reported by H. Schriefers, A. S. Meyer, and W. J. M. Levelt (see record 1990-16319-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Three-dimensional reconstruction of a plant dictyosome from series of ultrathin sections using computer image processing

A single dictyosome from an actively secreting ovary gland cell of Aptenia cordifolia has been reconstructed in 3-D from a series of twenty-nine electron micrographs by computer image processing. The reconstruction is presented under different viewing angles in the form of shaded perspective displays. From these displays the entire dictyosome, surrounded by numerous vesicles, appears to be more a spherical than a flat body. The plate-like region of the dictyósome is demonstrated when only a portion of the electron micrographs is used for the image processing, leading to ‘cut-off’ displays. Since some upper planes were removed, such ‘cut-off’ displays revealed both tubular connections between cisternae of the dictyosome and the neighbouring endoplasmic reticulum as well as tubular continuities between adjacent Golgi cisternae within the same stack. Possible consequences of both types of interconnections on transport and processing of proteins and glycoproteins are discussed.     

Peptides and proteins as a continuing exciting source of inspiration for peptidomimetics

Despite their enormous diversity in biological function and structure, peptides and proteins are endowed with properties that have induced and stimulated the development of peptidomimetics. Clearly, peptides can be considered as the "stem" of a phylogenetic molecular development tree from which branches of oligomeric peptidomimetics such as peptoids, peptidosulfonamides, urea peptidomimetics, as well as β-peptides have sprouted. It is still a challenge to efficiently synthesize these oligomeric species, and study their structural and biological properties. Combining peptides and peptidomimetics led to the emergence of peptide-peptidomimetic hybrids in which one or more (proteinogenic) amino acid residues have been replaced with these mimetic residues. In scan-like approaches, the influence of these replacements on biological activity can then be studied, to evaluate to what extent a peptide can be transformed into a peptidomimetic structure while maintaining, or even improving, its biological properties. A central issue, especially with the smaller peptides, is the lack of secondary structure. Important approaches to control secondary structure include the introduction of α,α-disubstituted amino acids, or (di)peptidomimetic structures such as the Freidinger lactam. Apart from intra-amino acid constraints, inter-amino acid constraints for formation of a diversity of cyclic peptides have shaped a thick branch. Apart from the classical disulfide bridges, the repertoire has been extended to include sulfide and triazole bridges as well as the single-, double- and even triple-bond replacements, accessible by the extremely versatile ring-closing alkene/alkyne metathesis approaches. The latter approach is now the method of choice for the secondary structure that presents the greatest challenge for structural stabilization: the α-helix.     

Time-course analysis of semantic and orthographic context effects in picture naming.

In Experiment 1, the authors used a picture-word task to investigate the time courses of semantic interference, orthographic facilitation, and their interaction. Five stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs), from -200 ms (word first) to 200 ms, in steps of 100 ms were used. The results show that the semantic interference effect was restricted to a small SOA range around zero, that the orthographic facilitation effect almost spanned the whole SOA range used, and finally, that the two effects modified each other. The authors present a connectionist model based on W. R. Glaser and M. O. Glaser's (see record 1989-24812-001) model that is able to simulate the experimental results. In Experiment 2, a prediction of the model was tested and supported. The findings support a word-form retrieval account of context effects in picture naming and are discussed in relation to alternative accounts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Colorful and transparent poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films filled with layered zinc hydroxide salts,intercalated with anionic orange azo dyes (methyl orange and orange II)

Layered zinc hydroxide salts (zinc LHS) were intercalated with anionic orange azo dyes, namely methyl orange (MO) and orange II (OII), and co-intercalated with hydrated chloride anions. After characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the materials were used as fillers for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Colorful transparent films were obtained by wet casting, revealing good dispersion of the material into the polymer. In the case of zinc LHS/OII, PVA was intercalated between the zinc LHS layers. Evaluation of the mechanical properties of the PVA composite films revealed that the layered colorful materials were able to increase the mechanical properties of the PVA films only when the films were stored under lower relative humidity. As expected, films with higher water content displayed reduced tensile strength and modulus because of the plasticizing effect of water. As for the films stored at 43% relative humidity, more pronounced improvement of modulus was observed for 1 and 4% zinc LHS/OII, and enhanced tensile strength was achieved for 0.5 and 1% zinc LHS/OII. This effect can be attributed to better dispersion of the layered filler and its better adhesion to the PVA matrix.     

How does bilingualism improve executive control? A comparison of active and reactive inhibition mechanisms.

It has been claimed that bilingualism enhances inhibitory control, but the available evidence is equivocal. The authors evaluated several possible versions of the inhibition hypothesis by comparing monolinguals and bilinguals with regard to stop signal performance, inhibition of return, and the attentional blink. These three phenomena, it can be argued, tap into different aspects of inhibition. Monolinguals and bilinguals did not differ in stop signal reaction time and thus were comparable in terms of active-inhibitory efficiency. However, bilinguals showed no facilitation from spatial cues, showed a strong inhibition of return effect, and exhibited a more pronounced attentional blink. These results suggest that bilinguals do not differ from monolinguals in terms of active inhibition but have acquired a better ability to maintain action goals and to use them to bias goal-related information. Under some circumstances, this ability may indirectly lead to more pronounced reactive inhibition of irrelevant information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)