Vocalization and breathing during the second and third years of life

Vocalization and breathing were studied in 40 healthy young children,including 5 boys and 5 girls at each, of ages of 18, 24, 30, and 36 months. A variable inductance plethysmograph was used to obtain estimates of volume changes of the rib cage, abdomen, and lung, as well as estimates of selected temporal features of the breathing cycle. Results indicated that breathing behavior was influenced by height and age, but not by vocalization type or sex. Such behavior was found to be highly variable, demonstrating that these young children had multiple degrees of freedom of performance available to accomplish the aeromechanical drive required.     

Reflection and Problem Solving: Integrating Methods of Teaching Mathematics and Science

An innovative teacher preparation course which integrates methods of teaching elementary mathematics and science was the context of this study. The course was developed as a prototype for the Teachers As Reflective Problem Solvers model for the preparation of elementary mathematics and science teachers. Data from 35 preservice elementary teachers' performance-portfolios were analyzed to reveal patterns of change in their reflections and problem-solving performance during the semester. Many of the students' reflections changed from task-focused learning to broader teaching applications. No relationship was discerned between changes in students' reflections and changes in their levels of problem-solving performance, although both increased during the semester. A significant correspondence was found, however, between students' perceptions of their problem-solving abilities and their actual performance in solving teaching problems in integrated mathematics and science contexts.     

Changing beliefs about reformed teaching in science: Experience matters

Can participation in a 4‐day workshop change science teachers’ beliefs about reformed science teaching? We observe a significant difference between pre‐ and post‐workshop surveys and explore an unexpected relationship involving teaching experience. Results of this exploratory study indicate a significant correlation between high school science teachers’ years of teaching experience and positive changes in beliefs about reformed teaching practices. Novice teachers hold more reformed beliefs pre‐institute, but post‐institute surveys revealed the two groups, experienced and novice, are statistically indistinguishable. We use our observations of the statistically significant changes in biology teachers’ responses on the Beliefs About Reformed Science Teaching and Learning instrument (BARSTL) to support our claim that a 4‐day Advanced Placement Summer Institute (APSI) in Biology can advance teachers’ beliefs toward more reformed teaching. Furthermore, these findings provided evidence for us to suggest that veteran teachers are more malleable in their beliefs about reformed science teaching than one might expect (AP®, Advanced Placement®, and AP Biology® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this article).     

A Mass-Spectrometry-Based Approach to Distinguish Annular and Specific Lipid Binding to Membrane Proteins

Membrane proteins engage in a variety of contacts with their surrounding lipids, but distinguishing between specifically bound lipids, and non-specific, annular interactions is a challenging problem. Applying native mass spectrometry to three membrane protein complexes with different lipid-binding properties, we explore the ability of detergents to compete with lipids bound in different environments. We show that lipids in annular positions on the presenilin homologue protease are subject to constant exchange with detergent. By contrast, detergent-resistant lipids bound at the dimer interface in the leucine transporter show decreased k_off rates in molecular dynamics simulations. Turning to the lipid flippase MurJ, we find that addition of the natural substrate lipid-II results in the formation of a 1:1 protein–lipid complex, where the lipid cannot be displaced by detergent from the highly protected active site. In summary, we distinguish annular from non-annular lipids based on their exchange rates in solution.     

Mixed Food Waste as Renewable Feedstock in Succinic Acid Fermentation

Mixed food waste, which was directly collected from restaurants without pretreatments, was used as a valuable feedstock in succinic acid (SA) fermentation in the present study. Commercial enzymes and crude enzymes produced from Aspergillus awamori and Aspergillus oryzae were separately used in hydrolysis of food waste, and their resultant hydrolysates were evaluated. For hydrolysis using the fungal mixture comprising A. awamori and A. oryzae, a nutrient-complete food waste hydrolysate was generated, which contained 31.9 g L^?1 glucose and 280 mg L^?1 free amino nitrogen. Approximately 80–90 % of the solid food waste was also diminished. In a 2.5 L fermentor, 29.9 g L^?1 SA was produced with an overall yield of 0.224 g g^?1 substrate using food waste hydrolysate and recombinant Escherichia coli. This is comparable to many similar studies using various wastes or by-products as substrates. Results of this study demonstrated the enormous potential of food waste as renewable resource in the production of bio-based chemicals and materials via microbial bioconversion.     

Pyridine modified polyethylene copolymer compatibilizer for melt blended carbon nanotube composites: effects of chain structure and matrix viscosity

The electrical percolation threshold of different polyethylene/carbon nanotube nanocomposites was studied as a function of chain structure, matrix viscosity, and the effect of compatibilizer. The lower the viscosity of the matrix the lower is the percolation threshold, regardless of the chain architecture and degree of crystallization. To improve dispersion a series of acrylic acid copolymer are introduced into the system. The highest concentration of acid co‐monomer that maintain miscibility with the polyethylene matrix is 5 wt.%. The compatibilizer in its pristine form does not have a significant effect on dispersion and on volume resistivity. When the acidic copolymer was modified with aminomethylpyridine, in order to facilitate π–π interaction with the nanotubes, a 4‐decade reduction was recorder for the high viscosity matrices at 10 wt.% compatibilizer loading. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Partial Decomposition Bases and Global Warfield Groups

The class of abelian groups with partial decomposition bases was developed by the first author in order to generalize Barwise and Eklof's classification of torsion groups in L_∞ω. In this article, we continue to explore algebraic characteristics of this class and establish a uniqueness theorem, extending our previous work on mixed p-local groups to the global case. It is shown that groups with partial decomposition bases are characterized in terms of Warfield groups and k-groups of Hill and Megibben. In fact, we prove that the class of groups with partial decomposition bases is identical to the class of k-groups, and, as such, closed under direct summands, and that every finitely generated subgroup of a k-group is locally nice. Also, we introduce and explore subgroups possessing a partial subbasis. As an application, it is shown that isotype k-subgroups of abelian groups are k-groups.     

Reversal of Tabun Toxicity Enabled by a Triazole-Annulated Oxime Library—Reactivators of Acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that degrades the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, when covalently inhibited by organophosphorus compounds (OPs), such as nerve agents and pesticides, can be reactivated by oximes. However, tabun remains among the most dangerous nerve agents due to the low reactivation efficacy of standard pyridinium aldoxime antidotes. Therefore, finding an optimal reactivator for prophylaxis against tabun toxicity and for post-exposure treatment is a continued challenge. In this study, we analyzed the reactivation potency of 111 novel nucleophilic oximes mostly synthesized using the CuAAC triazole ligation between alkyne and azide building blocks. We identified several oximes with significantly improved in vitro reactivating potential for tabun-inhibited human AChE, and in vivo antidotal efficacies in tabun-exposed mice. Our findings offer a significantly improved platform for further development of antidotes and scavengers directed against tabun and related phosphoramidate exposures, such as the Novichok compounds.     

Antibody orientation enhanced by selective polymer–protein noncovalent interactions

A unique interaction has been found between protein G’ (a truncated recombinant bacterial “alphabet” protein which aligns by noncovalent attachment to the antibody stem) and poly(methyl methacrylate), a thermoplastic polymer substrate, which can be easily fabricated using high-rate processes. Significantly improved orientation efficiency with traditional passive adsorption for this system (termed ALYGNSA) has been achieved as compared to the same assay performed on a polystyrene substrate with protein G’. Results were consistent with an average alignment of 80% of the human immunoglobulin G capture antibody which translated into a 30% to 50% improved alignment over an array of industry standards tested. Laser scanning confocal microscopy confirmed the immunological results. Studies of additional poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer derivatives and protein biolinker (A and AG) combinations have been conducted and have revealed different degrees of antibody alignment. These findings may lead to additional novel noncovalent methods of antibody orientation and greater sensitivity in immunological assays.