Ultra-bright source of polarization-entangled photons

Using the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion in a novel two-crystal geometry, one can generate a source of polarization-entangled photon pairs which is orders of magnitude brighter than previous sources. We have measured a high level of entanglement between photons emitted over a relatively large collection angle, and over a 10-nm bandwidth. As a demonstration of the source intensity, we obtained a 242-$\sigma$ violation of Bell's inequalities in less than three minutes.Comment: 4 pages, 5 encapsulated Postscript figures. To appear in Physical Review A (Rapid Communication

Clinical validation and cognitive elaboration: signs that encourage sustained recycling

Journal ArticleThree field experiments coupled the clinical psychology concept of validation with Elaboration Likelihood Model-Heuristic-Systematic Model theorizing to increase the influence of persuasive messages on aluminum can recycling. Signs that validated students' complaints that aluminum can recycling was inconvenient, but persuaded them to recycle anyhow (validate-persuade) were expected to reduce reactance, increase scrutiny and cognitive elaboration, and result in longer term behavior change. Across these 3 experiments, signs influenced recycling relative to baseline; a persuasive message was more influential than convenience; and clinical validation received support as a way to increase message scrutiny, cognitive elaboration, and sustained behavior change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR

Flexible correction processes in social judgment: implications for persuasion

Journal ArticleTwo experiments were conducted to examine correction for perceived bias in persuasion situations. Study 1 showed that, although a manipulation of source likability had an impact on attitudes when no instruction to remove bias was present, when people were asked to remove any bias from their judgments, the effect of the source likability manipulation disappeared. The fact that the correction instruction did not increase the impact of an argument quality manipulation on attitudes suggested that effort aimed at correction is conceptually distinct from effort aimed at processing a message in general. Study 2 showed that a correction for source likability took place under low elaboration conditions--where a manipulation of source likability had an impact when no correction instructions were provided, and under high elaboration conditions--where a manipulation of source likability had no impact when no correction instructions were provided. In the high elaboration conditions, correcting for an impact that was not actually present led a dislikable source to be more influential than a likable source

Identification of the ATPase Subunit of the Primary Maltose Transporter in the Hyperthermophilic Anaerobe \u3ci\u3eThermotoga maritima\u3c/i\u3e

Thermotoga maritima is a hyperthermophilic anaerobic bacterium that produces molecular hydrogen (H2) by fermentation. It catabolizes a broad range of carbohydrates through the action of diverse ABC transporters. However, in T. maritima and related species, highly similar genes with ambiguous annotation obscure a precise understanding of genome function. In T. maritima, three putative malK genes, all annotated as ATPase subunits, exhibited high identity to each other. To distinguish between these genes, malK disruption mutants were constructed by gene replacement, and the resulting mutant cell lines were characterized. Only a disruption of malK3 produced a defect in maltose catabolism. To verify that the mutant phenotype arose specifically from malK3 inactivation, the malK3 mutation was repaired by recombination, and maltose catabolism was restored. This study demonstrates the importance of a maltose ABC-type transporter and its relationship to sugar metabolism in T. maritima. IMPORTANCE: The application and further development of a genetic system was used here to investigate gene paralogs in the hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima. The occurrence of three ABC transporter ATPase subunits all annotated as malK was evaluated using a combination of genetic and bioinformatic approaches. The results clarify the role of only one malK gene in maltose catabolism in a nonmodel organism noted for fermentative hydrogen production. Includes supplemental material

Validation, persuasion and recycling: capitalizing on the social ecology of newspaper use.

Journal ArticleTwo experiments used clinical validation to increase scrutiny of messages posted in public settings. The first experiment used a 2 (validation: no/yes) × 2 (persuasion: none/"it is important") factorial design to develop messages about newspaper recycling. The prompt (no validation/no persuasion) had little impact on newspaper recycling, but the other 3 signs all resulted in increased recycling while the signs were in place. After signs were removed, recycling remained significantly higher than baseline (marginally significant for validation/persuasion). At the end of the study, number of cognitions favoring recycling was significantly higher in the validation-only condition and was lower in the validation/persuasion condition. Experiment 2 tested whether signs would have more impact if they were sensitive to the social ecology of newspaper recycling; that is, readers' tendency to leave newspapers behind so others may read them. Messages based on a 2 (message: validation-only/validation plus persuasion) × 2 (ecology: no social ecology/social ecology) factorial design supported social ecology's importance. Furthermore, because of the increased sharing in the social ecology conditions, total numbers of newspapers used was significantly lower in those buildings. Validation only yielded sustained behavior change in both Experiments 1 and 2, supporting additional research on the question of whether validation can, by itself, lead to cognitive elaboration and self-persuasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR