Modulating prospective memory and attentional control with high-definition transcranial current stimulation: Study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled trial in healthy older adults.

The ability to remember future intentions (i.e., prospective memory) is influenced by attentional control. At the neuronal level, frontal and parietal brain regions have been related to attentional control and prospective memory. It is debated, however, whether more or less activity in these regions is beneficial for older adults' performance. We will test that by systematically enhancing or inhibiting activity in these regions with anodal or cathodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults. We will include n = 105 healthy older volunteers (60-75 years of age) in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, and parallel-group design. The participants will receive either cathodal, anodal, or sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation of the left or right inferior frontal gyrus, or the right superior parietal gyrus (1mA for 20 min). During and after stimulation, the participants will complete tasks of attentional control and prospective memory. The results of this study will clarify how frontal and parietal brain regions contribute to attentional control and prospective memory in older healthy adults. In addition, we will elucidate the relationship between attentional control and prospective memory in that age group. The study has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on the 12th of May 2021 (trial identifier: NCT04882527)

Measurement of the Bottom-Strange Meson Mixing Phase in the Full CDF Data Set

We report a measurement of the bottom-strange meson mixing phase \beta_s using the time evolution of B0_s -> J/\psi (->\mu+\mu-) \phi (-> K+ K-) decays in which the quark-flavor content of the bottom-strange meson is identified at production. This measurement uses the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt(s)= 1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to 9.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of \beta_s and the B0_s decay-width difference \Delta\Gamma_s, and measure \beta_s in [-\pi/2, -1.51] U [-0.06, 0.30] U [1.26, \pi/2] at the 68% confidence level, in agreement with the standard model expectation. Assuming the standard model value of \beta_s, we also determine \Delta\Gamma_s = 0.068 +- 0.026 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps-1 and the mean B0_s lifetime, \tau_s = 1.528 +- 0.019 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps, which are consistent and competitive with determinations by other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett 109, 171802 (2012

Virology—the path forward

In the United States (US), biosafety and biosecurity oversight of research on viruses is being reappraised. Safety in virology research is paramount and oversight frameworks should be reviewed periodically. Changes should be made with care, however, to avoid impeding science that is essential for rapidly reducing and responding to pandemic threats as well as addressing more common challenges caused by infectious diseases. Decades of research uniquely positioned the US to be able to respond to the COVID-19 crisis with astounding speed, delivering life-saving vaccines within a year of identifying the virus. We should embolden and empower this strength, which is a vital part of protecting the health, economy, and security of US citizens. Herein, we offer our perspectives on priorities for revised rules governing virology research in the US

Ab initio studies of Al, O, and O2 adsorption on α-Al2O3 (0001) surfaces

The interactions of Al, O, and O2 with different α- Al2O3 (0001) surfaces have been studied using ab initio density functional theory methods. All three surface terminations obtainable by cleaving the bulk structure [single Al-layer (AlO), double Al-layer (AlAl), and O terminations] have been considered, as well as a completely hydrogenated O-terminated surface. Adsorbed Al shows strong ioniclike interaction with the AlO - and O-terminated surfaces, and several metastable adsorption sites are identified on the O-terminated surface. On the completely hydrogenated surface, however, Al adsorption in the bulk position is found to be unstable or very weak for the studied configurations of surface H atoms. Atomic O is found to interact strongly with the AlAl -terminated surface, where also O2 dissociative adsorption without any appreciable barrier is observed. In contrast, O adsorption on the AlO -terminated surface is metastable relative to molecular O2. On the O-terminated surface, we find the creation of O surface vacancies to be plausible, especially upon exposure to atomic O at elevated temperatures. The results are mainly discussed in the context of alumina thin film growth and provide insight into phenomena related to, e.g., preferred adsorption sites and effects of hydrogen on the growth.Original publication: E. Wallin, J.M. Andersson, E.P. Münger, V. Chirita &amp; U. Helmersson, Ab initio studies of Al, O, and O2 adsorption on α- Al2 O3 (0001) surfaces, 2006, Physical Review B, (74), 125409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.74.125409. Copyright: The America Physical Society, http://prb.aps.org/</p

Promoting the development of phonetic sounds of chilldren of the older pre-school age in the process of making books

Kvalifikācijas darbs ir izstrādāts par tematu „Vecākā pirmsskolas vecuma bērnu skaņu izrunas pilnveide grāmatu gatavošanas procesā” Kvalifikācijas darba autore: Mārīte Aldere Darbā izvēlētā temata aktualitāte pamatojama ar to , ka kopā gatavotās spēles un grāmatas, bērnos izraisa pozitīvas emocijas un sekmē ne tikai bērnu runāt prasmi, bet attīsta arī citas dzīvē nepieciešamās prasmes, tādēļ būtiski izpētīt kā skaņu izrunas pilnveidi var sekmēt ar grāmatas gatavošanas procesu. Pētījuma mērķis: Veikt teorētisku un praktisku pētījumu par 5-6 gadus vecu bērnu skaņas izrunu, izmantojot grāmatas, tapšanas procesu. Pētījums sastāv no divām daļām – teorētiskā un empīriskā pētījuma. Pētījuma teorētiskā daļā tika izpētīta skaņu izrunas pilnveides sekmēšanas nozīme pirmsskolas vecuma bērniem, grāmatas, spēļu gatavošanas daudzveidības un konkrētu bērnu vecuma skaņu izrunas attīstības likumsakarības. Empīriskajā pētījumā tika izstrādāti bērnu skaņu izrunas kritēriji, izveidota virkne skaņu izrunas sekmēšanai un praktiski izpētīta grāmatas izmantošanas efektivitāte bērnu skaņu izrunas sekmēšanā. Pētījuma tika apstiprināta hipotēze: 5-6 gadīgo bērnu skaņas izruna tiks sekmēta ja: -Tiks ņemta vērā bērniem individuālā attīstība; -Pirmsskolas skolotāja pedagoģiskajā procesā iekļaus kopīgi gatavotās grāmatas un spēles; -Tiks ņemta vērā bērna iepriekšējā pieredze; Atslēgas vārdi: skaņas izruna, grāmata, vecākā pirmsskolas vecuma bērni, pedagoģiskais process. Kvalifikācijas darba apjoms:..lpp, ..attēli,…tabulas, pielikumi, ..literarūras avoti.The qualification work has been developed on “Promoting the development of the phonetic sounds of children of the older pre-school age in the process of making books” Author: Marite Aldere The focus of the work is based on the fact that the games and books that are prepared together with children generate positive feelings and contribute not only to children's speaking skills, but also to other skills needed in life, and therefore it is essential to explore how the phonetic sound improvement can be promoted through the process of preparing a book. Purpose of the study: To conduct a theoretical and practical study on the sound pronunciation of children aged 5-6 through the process of making books. The study consists of two parts - theoretical and empirical. A theoretical part of the study examines the relationship between enhancing phonetic sound pronunciation for pre-school children, with book and game making and the development of phonetic pronunciation of certain child-age. In the empirical part of the work, criteria for phonetic sound pronunciation for children was developed, created a series of phonetic pronunciation exercises and explored the effectiveness of using books in promoting phonetic sound pronunciation for children. The study confirmed the hypothesis: The phonetic sound pronunciation of 5-6-year-olds will be promoted if: - the individual development of a child would be taken into account; - jointly made books and games would be included in the teaching process; - the previous experience of a child would be taken into account; Key words: sound phonic pronunciation, book, children of the older pre-school age, pedagogical process. Size of the qualification work: … p., ... pictures, … tables, … annexes, … sources of literature.

Ab initio studies of Al, O, and O2 adsorption on α-Al2O3 (0001) surfaces

The interactions of Al, O, and O2 with different α- Al2O3 (0001) surfaces have been studied using ab initio density functional theory methods. All three surface terminations obtainable by cleaving the bulk structure [single Al-layer (AlO), double Al-layer (AlAl), and O terminations] have been considered, as well as a completely hydrogenated O-terminated surface. Adsorbed Al shows strong ioniclike interaction with the AlO - and O-terminated surfaces, and several metastable adsorption sites are identified on the O-terminated surface. On the completely hydrogenated surface, however, Al adsorption in the bulk position is found to be unstable or very weak for the studied configurations of surface H atoms. Atomic O is found to interact strongly with the AlAl -terminated surface, where also O2 dissociative adsorption without any appreciable barrier is observed. In contrast, O adsorption on the AlO -terminated surface is metastable relative to molecular O2. On the O-terminated surface, we find the creation of O surface vacancies to be plausible, especially upon exposure to atomic O at elevated temperatures. The results are mainly discussed in the context of alumina thin film growth and provide insight into phenomena related to, e.g., preferred adsorption sites and effects of hydrogen on the growth.Original publication: E. Wallin, J.M. Andersson, E.P. Münger, V. Chirita &amp; U. Helmersson, Ab initio studies of Al, O, and O2 adsorption on α- Al2 O3 (0001) surfaces, 2006, Physical Review B, (74), 125409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.74.125409. Copyright: The America Physical Society, http://prb.aps.org/</p

Atom-by-atom tuning of the electrostatic potassium-channel modulator dehydroabietic acid

Dehydroabietic acid (DHAA) is a naturally occurring component of pine resin that was recently shown to open voltage-gated potassium (KV) channels. The hydrophobic part of DHAA anchors the compound near the channel’s positively charged voltage sensor in a pocket between the channel and the lipid membrane. The negatively charged carboxyl group exerts an electrostatic effect on the channel’s voltage sensor, leading to the channel opening. In this study, we show that the channel-opening effect increases as the length of the carboxyl-group stalk is extended until a critical length of three atoms is reached. Longer stalks render the compounds noneffective. This critical distance is consistent with a simple electrostatic model in which the charge location depends on the stalk length. By combining an effective anchor with the optimal stalk length, we create a compound that opens the human KV7.2/7.3 (M type) potassium channel at a concentration of 1 µM. These results suggest that a stalk between the anchor and the effector group is a powerful way of increasing the potency of a channel-opening drug.Funding agencies: Swedish Research Council [2016-02615]; Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation [20150672]; Swedish Brain Foundation [2016-0326]</p