Using what we know: Consequences of intentionally retrieving gist versus item-specific information.

The effect of a prior gist-based versus item-specific retrieval orientation on recognition of objects and words was examined. Prior item-specific retrieval increased item-specific recognition of episodically related but not previously tested objects relative to both conceptual- and perceptual-gist retrieval. An item-specific retrieval advantage also was found when the stimuli were words (synonyms) rather than objects but not when participants overtly named objects during gist-based recognition testing, which suggests that they did not always label objects under general gist-retrieval instructions. Unlike verbal overshadowing, labeling objects during recognition attenuated (but did not eliminate) test- and interference-related forgetting. A full understanding of how retrieval affects subsequent memory, even for events or facts that are not themselves retrieved, must take into account the specificity with which that retrieval occurs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A study of diamond synthesis by hot filament chemical vapor deposition on Nc coatings

Deposition of diamond films onto various substrates can result in significant technological advantages in terms of functionality and improved life and performance of components. Diamond is hard, wear resistant, chemically inert, and biocompatible. It is considered to be the ideal material for surfaces of cutting tools and biomedical components. However, it is well known that diamond deposition onto technologically important substrates, such as co-cemented carbides and steels, is problematic due to carbon interaction with the substrate, low nucleation densities, and poor adhesion. Several papers previously published in the relevant literature have reported the application of interlayer materials such as metal nitrides and carbides to provide bonding between diamond and hostile substrates. In this study, the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of polycrystalline diamond on TiN/SiN _x nc (nc) interlayers deposited at relatively low temperatures has been investigated for the first time. The nc layers were deposited at 70 or 400 °C on Si substrates using a dual ion beam deposition system. The results showed that a preliminary seeding pretreatment with diamond suspension was necessary to achieve large diamond nucleation densities and that diamond nucleation was larger on nc films than on bare sc-Si subjected to the same pretreatment and CVD process parameters. TiN/SiN _x layers synthesized at 70 or 400 °C underwent different nanostructure modifications during diamond CVD. The data also showed that TiN/SiN _x films obtained at 400 °C are preferable in so far as their use as interlayers between hostile substrates and CVD diamond is concerned. This paper was presented at the fourth International Surface Engineering Congress and Exposition held August 1–3, 2005 in St. Paul, MN.     

A systematic literature review on IoT-aware business process modeling views,requirements and notations

Software and Systems Modeling - The Internet of things has been adopted in several sectors both influencing how people work and enhancing organizations’ business processes. This resulted in...     

Integration of “Components” to Test Software Components

We present an ongoing research project aimed at developing a framework for component-based testing, in which we re-use and suitably combine some existing tools: the system architecture and the components are specified by the UML, and specifically the recently proposed UML Components methodology; the test cases are derived by applying the Cow_Suite, an environment for UML-based testing, previously conceived for the integration testing of OO systems; and the tests are codified and executed within the CDT, a framework under development, allowing for the decoupling between the abstract specification of tests, which is made against an architectural model, and their concrete execution, which needs to take into account the component implementations.     

Correlation of Immunological and Histopathological Features with Gene Expression-Based Classifiers in Colon Cancer Patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between four distinct histopathological features: (1) tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, (2) mucinous differentiation, (3) tumor-stroma ratio, plus (4) tumor budding and two gene expression-based classifiers—(1) consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) plus (2) colorectal cancer intrinsic subtypes (CRIS). All four histopathological features were retrospectively scored on hematoxylin and eosin sections of the most invasive part of the primary tumor in 218 stage II and III colon cancer patients from two independent cohorts (AMC-AJCC-90 and AC-ICAM). RNA-based CMS and CRIS assignments were independently obtained for all patients. Contingency tables were constructed and a χ2 test was used to test for statistical significance. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and a mucinous phenotype (>50% mucinous surface area) were strongly correlated with CMS1 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008) and CRIS-A (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001). The presence of mucus (≥ 10%) was associated with CMS3: mucus was present in 64.1% of all CMS3 tumors (p < 0.001). Although a clear association between tumor-stroma ratio and CMS4 was established in this study (p = 0.006), still 32 out of 61 (52.5%) CMS4 tumors were scored as stroma-low, indicating that CMS4 tumors cannot be identified solely based on stromal content. Higher budding counts were seen in CMS4 and CRIS-B tumors (p = 0.045 and p = 0.046). No other associations of the measured parameters were seen for any of the other CRIS subtypes. Our analysis revealed clear associations between histopathologic features and CMS or CRIS subtypes. However, identification of distinct molecular subtypes solely based on histopathology proved to be infeasible. Combining both molecular and morphologic features could potentially improve patient stratification.     

Effect of Constant‐Rate Reduction on the Performance of a Ternary Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalyst in Methanol Synthesis

A multi‐functional flow set‐up was developed for the rate‐ and temperature‐controlled reduction of copper catalysts, their application in high‐pressure methanol synthesis and the determination of the copper surface area by N₂O frontal chromatography. The influence of constant‐rate reduction on the catalytic properties of a ternary Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst was investigated. The temperature during the constant‐rate reduction was found to decrease, indicating autocatalytic kinetics, but no significant catalytic effect of the milder reduction conditions was observed compared with a slow linear heating ramp.     

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants in animals representing different trophic levels of the North Sea food Web

The levels of individual PBDE congeners were investigated in the invertebrate species whelk (Buccinum undatum), seastar (Asterias rubens), and hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus), the gadoid fish species whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and cod (Gadus morhua), and the marine mammal species harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). These species are all important representatives of different trophic levels of the North Sea food web. All six major PBDE congeners detected (BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154) are most prevalent in the commercial Penta-BDE formulation. There is no evidence for the occurrence of the Octa-BDE formulation in the North Sea food web, since its dominant congener, BDE183, was never detected. BDE209, the main congener (> 97%) in the Deca-BDE formulation, was detected only in a minority of the samples and always in concentrations around the limit of detection. Since BDE209 is often the major BDE congener in sediments from the area, the main reason for its low concentrations in biota from the North Sea seems to be a relatively low bioaccumulation potential. This can either be due to a low uptake rate of the very large molecule or a relatively rapid excretion after biotransformation. Since all invertebrates investigated are sentinel species, they are highly representative for the area of capture. The highest lipid-normalized concentrations of PBDEs in the invertebrates occurred near the mouth of the river Tees at the East coast of the UK. The geographical distribution of the PBDEs can be explained by the residual currents in the area. The direction of these currents differs between the summer and the winter season as a result of the presence or absence of vertical summer stratification of the deeper waters north of the Dogger Bank. Summer stratification results in the development of a density-driven bottom water current formed after the onset of vertical stratification of the water column in May leaving the UK coast near Flamborough Head toward the Dogger Bank. In winter, the residual currents run in a more southerly direction and follow the UK coastline. The distribution pattern of the PCBs and p,p'-DDE in the invertebrates was entirely different from that of the PBDEs, which could be expected, since the use of these organochlorines in western Europe peaked in the 1960s and 1970s but has been forbidden more than two decades ago, whereas the production and use of the penta-BDE formulation is of a more recent origin. The higher trophic levels of the North Sea food web were represented by the predatory gadoid fish species whiting and cod and the marine mammal species harbor seal and harbor porpoise. The lipid-normalized levels of the six major PBDE congeners in fish were similar to the levels in the invertebrates, but a biomagnification step in concentrations of generally more than an order of magnitude occurred from gadoid fish to marine mammals. Based on the limited number of samples, no differences could be observed between harbor seal and harbor porpoise. In summary, the results in three species of sentinel invertebrates from a network of stations covering a major part of the North Sea basin showed that the estuary of the river Tees at the UK East coast is a major source for tri- to hexa-PBDEs. Throughout the food-chain, the most marked increase in (lipid-normalized) levels of all six PBDE congeners occurred from predatory (gadoid) fish to marine mammals, agreeing with the transition from gill-breathing to lung-breathing animals. This has serious consequences for the route of elimination of POPs, since their elimination from the blood into the ambient seawater via the gill-membrane is no longer possible.     

Obtaining a PhD in psychology.

Analyzed demographic characteristics of psychology graduate students entering 4 universities between 1955 and 1964 in relation to completion of the PhD or withdrawal. Of 593 Ss studied, 27.7% completed the PhD, 27.3% remained in school, and 45% withdrew. Mean time to completion was 3.77 yr. for Ss entering with a masters, and 5.07 yr. for those entering without one. Marital status and sex were significantly related to obtaining the PhD but not to time for degree completion. Age at entrance, graduate major, undergraduate major, and type of degree showed no relation to completion or withdrawal. Other related factors including the problem of dropouts are discussed. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chemical synthesis and sintering behaviour of highly dispersed W/Cu composite powders

The paper reports the preparation of W/Cu composite powders by a wet process based on the reduction of selected copper precursors in ethylene glycol and in the presence of tungsten powders. Reactions were performed in different conditions of temperature, time and concentration of the copper precursor. Two different Cu compounds, Cu(AcO)₂·H₂O and CuO (coarse or fine) and two W powders (coarse or fine) were used. The reaction yields ranged from 75% to 98%. Dense bodies (up to 97% fractional density) with highly homogeneous microstructure as well as high electrical conductivity (up to 41% IACS) were obtained by sintering W/Cu powders at 1350 °C.     

Obituary: Nicholas Pastore (1916–1998).

Memorializes Nicholas Pastore, Professor Emeritus at Queens College, City University of New York. Pastore is remembered for his wide range of interests within the field of psychology. The topics of his published articles include a critical review of the Kinsey report, the frustration–aggression hypothesis, the chi-square test, the Ames oscillatory effect, the genetics of schizophrenia, and aspects of race differences. Pastore conducted experiments with canaries to compare the "predictive efficiency" of the stimulus–response and the cognitive–perceptual theoretical formulations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)