The Effect of Ozone Gas-Liquid Contacting Conditions in a Static Mixer on Microorganism Reduction

The effect of gas-liquid contacting conditions in a static mixer on ozone transfer efficiency and reduction of Bacillus subtilis spores was studied in an experimental ozone contactor. An empirical mathematical model was developed that related the transfer efficiency in the experimental system to the superficial liquid velocity in the mixer, the gas-liquid flow rate ratio and the height of the down-stream bubble column. Spore reduction was determined primarily by the dissolved ozone concentration-time (C_avgt_m) product in the reactive flow segment and was independent of the gas-liquid contacting conditions in the static mixer. In an integrated ozone contacting system, the static mixer should be designed to maximize ozone mass transfer while the reactive flow segment should be designed for efficient microorganism reduction.     

The attentional demands of encoding and retrieval in younger and older adults: I. Evidence from divided attention costs.

Four studies examined the effects of divided attention in younger and older adults. Attention was divided at encoding or retrieval in free recall (Experiment 1), cued recall (Experiments 2 and 3), and recognition (Experiment 4). Dividing attention at encoding disrupted memory performance equally for the two age groups; by contrast, for both age groups, dividing attention at retrieval had little or no effect on memory performance. Secondary task reaction times (RTs) were slowed to a greater extent for the older adults than for the younger adults, especially at retrieval. Age-related differences in RTs costs at retrieval were largest in free recall, smaller in cued recall, and smallest in recognition. These results provide evidence for an age-related increase in the attentional demands of encoding and retrieval. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Domain flexibility in retroviral proteases: structural implications for drug resistant mutations

Rigid body rotation of five domains and movements within their interfacial joints provide a rational context for understanding why HIV protease mutations that arise in drug resistant strains are often spatially removed from the drug or substrate binding sites. Domain motions associated with substrate binding in the retroviral HIV-1 and SIV proteases are identified and characterized. These motions are in addition to closure of the flaps and result from rotations of approximately 6-7 degrees at primarily hydrophobic interfaces. A crystal structure of unliganded SIV protease (incorporating the point mutation Ser 4 His to stabilize the protease against autolysis) was determined to 2.0 A resolution in a new space group, P3221. The structure is in the most "open" conformation of any retroviral protease so far examined, with six residues of the flaps disordered. Comparison of this and unliganded HIV structures, with their respective liganded structures by difference distance matrixes identifies five domains of the protease dimer that move as rigid bodies against one another: one terminal domain encompassing the N- and C-terminal beta sheet of the dimer, two core domains containing the catalytic aspartic acids, and two flap domains. The two core domains rotate toward each other on substrate binding, reshaping the binding pocket. We therefore show that, for enzymes, mutations at interdomain interfaces that favor the unliganded form of the target active site will increase the off-rate of the inhibitor, allowing the substrate greater access for catalysis. This offers a mechanism of resistance to competitive inhibitors, especially when the forward enzymatic reaction rate exceeds the rate of substrate dissociation.     

Divided Attention in Younger and Older Adults: Effects of Strategy and Relatedness on Memory Performance and Secondary Task Costs.

Divided attention at encoding leads to a significant decline in memory performance, whereas divided attention during retrieval has relatively little effect; nevertheless, retrieval carries significant secondary task costs, especially for older adults. The authors further investigated the effects of divided attention in younger and older adults by using a cued-recall task and by measuring retrieval accuracy, retrieval latency, and the temporal distribution of attentional costs at encoding and retrieval. An age-related memory deficit was reduced by pair relatedness, whereas strategy instructions benefited both age groups equally. Attentional costs were greater for retrieval than for encoding, especially for older adults. These findings are interpreted in light of notions of an age-related associative deficit (M. Naveh-Benjamin, 2000) and age-related differences in the use of self-initiated activities and environmental support (F. I. M. Craik, 1983, 1986). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rheology and vibration of fresh concrete: Predicting the radius of action of poker vibrators from wave propagation

The compaction of fresh concrete by an internal poker vibrator has been analysed using closed-form solutions for the propagation of the shear and compressive waveforms, assuming that concrete conforms to the Bingham model. In the inner liquefied zone around the vibrator the flow is due to shear whereas in the outer unsheared zone propagation is due to compressive waves. The analysis gives a method of predicting the radial position at which the flow changes, which coincides with the radius of action of the vibrator. Theory and experiment agree well and confirm that the peak velocity of the vibration governs its efficacy, with radius of action increasing with increasing velocity. The radius of action increases with decreasing yield stress and with increasing plastic viscosity. The work offers the potential to optimise the design and use of vibrators.     

Trends in psychology: An empirical issue.

Responds to comments by M. J. Tagler, K. R. Gibson, M. P. Martens, S. Leigland , P. C. Friman et al, and G. N. Martin (see records 2000-13816-016, 2000-13816-017, 2000-13816-018, 2000-13816-019, 2000-13816-020, and 2000-13816-021) on R. W. Robins et al's (see record 1999-00297-003) article which examined trends in the prominence of 4 major schools of psychology. Methodological issues are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influences on the efficiency of prospective memory in younger and older adults.

The influence of 4 factors on age-related declines in prospective memory (PM) was considered in 2 experiments. The results of the experiments reveal that age-related differences in PM were not moderated by the degree of match between the nature of processing required in the ongoing activity and the defining features of the PM cue. Age-related differences in the accuracy of PM responses were primarily attributable to an increase in the number of omission errors committed by older adults. Age-related differences in PM were somewhat independent of the ability to recall the PM cues and intentions following task performance and were mediated by the cognitive resources of processing speed, inhibitory control, and working memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Memory for context and its use in item memory: Comparisons of younger and older persons.

This study compared memory for words and the font in which they appeared (or the voice speaking them) in young and old participants, to explore whether age-related differences in episodic word memory are due to age-related differences in memory for perceptual–contextual information. In each of 3 experiments, young and older participants were presented with words to learn. The words were presented in either 1 of 2 font types, or in 1 of 2 male voices, and participants paid attention either to the fonts or voices or to the meaning of the words. Participants were then tested on both word and font or voice memory. Results showed that younger participants had better explicit memory for font and voice memory and for the words themselves but that older participants benefited at least as much as younger people when perceptual characteristics of the words were reinstated. There was no evidence of an age-related impairment in the encoding of perceptual–contextual information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

CHARM is not enough: Comments on Eich's model of cued recall.

Comments on the claim of J. M. Eich (see record 1983-04922-001) that the proposed composite holographic associative recall model (CHARM) provides a good account of the empirical findings by the present authors (see record 1973-20189-001) that are associated with the levels-of-processing approach to the study of memory. It is asserted that although CHARM simulates the results of several relevant studies, it does so by making assumptions different from those embodied in levels of processing. In particular, Eich's central assumption that well-remembered events are characterized by high levels of similarity between the target item and its context is questioned. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anticancer and Toxic Properties of Cyclotides are Dependent on Phosphatidylethanolamine Phospholipid Targeting

Cyclotides, ultrastable disulfide‐rich cyclic peptides, can be engineered to bind and inhibit specific cancer targets. In addition, some cyclotides are toxic to cancer cells, though not much is known about their mechanisms of action. Here we delineated the potential mode of action of cyclotides towards cancer cells. A novel set of analogues of kalata B1 (the prototypic cyclotide) and kalata B2 and cycloviolacin O2 were examined for their membrane‐binding affinity and selectivity towards cancer cells. By using solution‐state NMR, surface plasmon resonance, flow cytometry and bioassays we show that cyclotides are toxic against cancer and non‐cancerous cells and their toxicity correlates with their ability to target and disrupt lipid bilayers that contain phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipids. Our results suggest that the potential of cyclotides as anticancer therapeutics might best be realised by combining their amenability to epitope engineering with their ability to bind cancer cell membranes.