Rapid tablet swelling and disintegration during exposure to brightness-mode ultrasound

Controlled tablet disintegration is useful for chemical consistency checks. This study monitored the swelling of 54 analgesia tablets from two different batches, during 13–6-MHz brightness-mode sonication and simultaneous video recording. The tablets were placed on an acoustic reflector inside a container and sonicated from the top. Sonication shortened the displacement half-life by 17%–27%. During tablet swelling, their speed of sound increased linearly, confirming the linearity of the this process. Diagnostic ultrasound significantly decreased tablet disintegration times, supporting the ultrasound–microbubble interaction hypothesis.

Strong constraints from COSINE-100 on the DAMA dark matter results using the same sodium iodide target

It is a long-standing debate as to whether or not the annual modulation in the event rate observed by the DAMA sodium iodide experiment is caused by the interaction of dark matter particles. To resolve this issue, several groups have been working to develop new experiments with the aim of reproducing or refuting DAMA's results using the same sodium iodide target medium. The COSINE-100 experiment is one of these that is currently operating with 106 kg of low-background sodium iodide crystals at the Yangyang underground laboratory. Analysis of the initial 59.5 days of COSINE-100 data showed that the annual modulation signal reported by DAMA is inconsistent with explanation using spin-independent interaction of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), a favored candidate of dark matter particles, with sodium or iodine nuclei in the context of the standard halo mode. However, this first result left open interpretations using certain alternative dark matter models, dark matter halo distributions, and detector responses that could allow room for consistency between DAMA and COSINE-100. Here we present new results from over 1.7 years of COSINE-100 operation with improved event selection and energy threshold reduced from 2 keV to 1 keV. We find an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity, sufficient for the first time to strongly constrain these alternative scenarios, as well as to further strengthen the previously observed inconsistency with the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent interaction hypothesis.

A pocket-factor–triggered conformational switch in the hepatitis B virus capsid

Viral hepatitis is growing into an epidemic illness, and it is urgent to neutralize the main culprit, hepatitis B virus (HBV), a small-enveloped retrotranscribing DNA virus. An intriguing observation in HB virion morphogenesis is that capsids with immature genomes are rarely enveloped and secreted. This prompted, in 1982, the postulate that a regulated conformation switch in the capsid triggers envelopment. Using solid-state NMR, we identified a stable alternative conformation of the capsid. The structural variations focus on the hydrophobic pocket of the core protein, a hot spot in capsid–envelope interactions. This structural switch is triggered by specific, high-affinity binding of a pocket factor. The conformational change induced by the binding is reminiscent of a maturation signal. This leads us to formulate the “synergistic double interaction” hypothesis, which explains the regulation of capsid envelopment and indicates a concept for therapeutic interference with HBV envelopment.

PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF WHATSAPP VOICE MESSAGING: INVESTIGATING EFL STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES

Rapid emergence of wireless technologies and ownership of mobile devices have changed many aspects of peoples’ lives. These mobile technologies have been integrated into language learning and teaching as well. Successful and effective use of these technologies in language learning, however, depends on the incorporation of pedagogical principles guided by theories of second language acquisition (SLA). Accordingly, informed by the interaction hypothesis (Gass & Mackey, 2015), this study employed a messaging application, WhatsApp, to help language learners improve their communication skills. Nine A1 level EFL students used WhatsApp voice messaging with their peers outside the classes to accomplish the tasks assigned to them for four weeks in the spring semester of 2018. Later, their experiences were investigated by means of written surveys. Content analysis of the data demonstrated that all the students who took part in the study benefitted from the WhatsApp voice messaging practice and perceived numerous benefits. These included speaking and pronunciation development, an opportunity for language practice, review of previous learning, overcoming shyness, and awareness and correction of errors. The findings were discussed in the light of the existing literature and certain implications arose for both language learners and teachers. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0760/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Horizontal but not vertical saccades enhance memory retrieval: A meta-analysis and systematic review

Saccade-induced retrieval enhancement (SIRE) refers to the phenomenon that actively engaging in horizontal eye movements before recall enhances subsequent memory performance. This effect is thought to be the result of interhemispheric interactions stimulated by saccades. An alternative explanation is that saccades promote memory retrieval by improving top–down attention control. Thus, the mechanisms of SIRE are unclear, and the present meta-analysis quantitatively analysed the effect of saccades on memory performance and examined the mechanisms of SIRE. We searched “Web of Science,” “PubMed,” and “Springer” for peer-reviewed papers using the keywords “eye movements + memory” and “saccades + memory.” Twenty-two papers were included in the final analysis. There was a significant facilitation of horizontal saccades on overall memory performance, with a pooled effect size (Cohen’s d) of 0.45 ( p < .001). However, the overall effect of vertical saccades was not significant ( d = 0.1, p = .14). Moderation analysis showed that the handedness of participants was a significant moderator of SIRE, with strongly right-handed individuals benefitting more from horizontal saccades than non-strongly right-handed individuals ( p < .01). Horizontal saccades improved memory performance, particularly for strongly right-handed individuals. These results support the interhemispheric interaction hypothesis.

Epigallocatechin Gallate During Dietary Restriction — Potential Mechanisms of Enhanced Liver Injury

Green tea extract (GTE) is popular in weight loss, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is considered as the main active component. However, GTE is the primary cause of herbal and dietary supplement-induced liver injury in the United States. Whether there is a greater risk of liver injury when EGCG is consumed during dieting for weight loss has not been previously reported. This study found for the first time that EGCG could induce enhanced lipid metabolism pathways, suggesting that EGCG had the so-called “fat burning” effect, although EGCG did not cause liver injury at doses of 400 or 800 mg/kg in normal mice. Intriguingly, we found that EGCG caused dose-dependent hepatotoxicity on mice under dietary restriction, suggesting the potential combination effects of dietary restriction and EGCG. The combination effect between EGCG and dietary restriction led to overactivation of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid oxidation pathways, significantly increasing the accumulation of pro-inflammatory lipid metabolites and thus mediating liver injury. We also found that the disruption of Lands’ cycle and sphingomyelin-ceramides cycle and the high expression of taurine-conjugated bile acids were important metabolomic characteristics in EGCG-induced liver injury under dietary restriction. This original discovery suggests that people should not go on a diet while consuming EGCG for weight loss; otherwise the risk of liver injury will be significantly increased. This discovery provides new evidence for understanding the “drug-host” interaction hypothesis of drug hepatotoxicity and provides experimental reference for clinical safe use of green tea-related dietary supplements.

Why Do Intelligent People Care More About the Environment?

The present study investigates and provides support for the Savanna-IQ interaction hypothesis regarding pro-environmental values. Study 1 showed that the highest attained education level is a significant predictor of pro-environmental concern, while Study 2 showed that the trait of openness to experience plays a unique role in predicting biospheric values, but not other values, lending support for the Savanna-IQ interaction hypothesis. Acting to preserve the natural environment is an evolutionarily novel challenge, and therefore, is more actively addressed by individuals who more readily adopt novel ideas and seek out new ways of behaving.

Evaluating Semantic Co-creation by Using a Marker as a Linguistic Constraint Tool in Shared Cognitive Representation Models

Semantic co-creation occurs in the process of communication between two or more people, where human cognitive representation models of the topic of discussion converge. The use of linguistic constraint tools (for example a shared marker) enable participants to focus on communication, improving communicative success. Recent results state that the best communicative success can be achieved if two users can interact in a restricted way, so called team focused interaction hypothesis. Even though the advantage of team focused interaction sounds plausible, it needs to be noted that previous studies enforce the constraint usage. Our study aims at investigating the advantage of using shared markers as a linguistic constraint tool in semantic co-creation, while moving them becomes optional. In our experimental task, based on a shared geographic map as a cognitive representation model, the two participants have to identify a target location, which is only known to a third participant. We assess two main factors, the teams’ use of a shared marker and the two complexity levels of the cognitive representation model. We had hypothesized that sharing a marker should improve communicative success, as communication is more focused. However, our results indicated no general benefit by using a marker as well as team interaction, itself. Our results suggest that the use of a shared marker is an efficient linguistic constraint at higher levels of complexity of the cognitive representation than those tested in our study. Based on this consideration, the team focused interaction hypothesis should be further developed to include a control parameter for the perceived decision complexity of the cognitive representation model.

How "Ought" Exceeds but Implies "Can": Description and Encouragement in Moral Judgment

This paper tests a theory about the relationship between two important topics in moral philosophy and psychology. One topic is the function of normative language, specifically claims that one “ought” to do something. Do these claims function to describe moral responsibilities, encourage specific behavior, or both? The other topic is the relationship between saying that one “ought” to do something and one’s ability to do it. In what respect, if any, does what one “ought” to do exceed what one “can” do? The theory tested here has two parts: (1) “ought” claims function to both describe responsibilities and encourage people to fulfill them (the dual-function hypothesis); (2) the two functions relate differently to ability, because the encouragement function is limited by the person’s ability, but the descriptive function is not (the interaction hypothesis). If this theory is correct, then in one respect “ought implies can” is false because people have responsibilities that exceed their abilities. But in another respect “ought implies can” is legitimate because it is not worthwhile to encourage people to do things that exceed their ability. Results from two behavioral experiments support the theory that “ought” exceeds but implies “can.” Results from a third experiment provide further evidence regarding an “ought” claim’s primary function and how contextual features can affect the interpretation of its functions.