In three experiments, we explored the role of verb tense and verb aspect in subjects' construction of mental models while reading. In the first and second experiments, subjects read paragraphs in which verb tense was manipulated to assign current and past attributes (job descriptions) to a main character. The results showed that on-line accessibility was faster for current attributes. The results of the third experiment showed that verb aspect manipulations regarding character actions affect the speed at which the characters are available for recognition.

Aims/hypothesis Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) plays a major role in the visual cycle and is essential to the maintenance of photoreceptors. The aim of this study was to determine whether a decrease in IRBP production exists in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Methods Vitreous samples from diabetic patients with proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR, NPDR), and from non-diabetic patients with macular hole (control group) were selected for IRBP quantitative assessment by proteomic analysis (fluorescence-based difference gel electrophoresis) and western blot. Human post mortem eyes (n=16) from diabetic donors without clinically detectable retinopathy and from non-diabetic donors (n=16) were used to determine IRBP (also known as RBP3) mRNA levels (RT-PCR) and protein content (western blot and confocal microscopy). Retinal neurodegeneration was assessed by measuring glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP) and the apoptotic rate. Y79 human retinoblastoma cells were used to test the effects of glucose, TNF-α and IL-1β on IRBP expression and IRBP levels. Results Intravitreous IRBP concentration was significantly lower in PDR

Subjective estimations of age of acquisition (AoA) for a large pool of Spanish words were collected from college students in Spain. The average score for each word (based on 50 individual responses, on a scale from 1 to 11) was taken as an AoA indicator, and normative values for a total of 7,039 single words are provided as supplemental materials. Beyond its intrinsic value as a standalone corpus, the largest of its kind for Spanish, the value of the database is enhanced by the fact that it contains most of the words that are currently included in other normative studies, allowing for a more complete characterization of the lexical stimuli that are usually employed in studies with Spanish-speaking participants. The norms are available for downloading as supplemental materials with this article.

1H-NMR-based metabonomic analysis of vitreous fluid permits the obtainment of a metabolic signature of PDR. Apart from the higher abundance of lactate and glucose, significant deficits of galactitol and AA are the main metabolic fingerprints of vitreous fluid from PDR patients.

In recent years we have seen a proliferation of musical tables. Believing that this is not just the result of a tabletop trend, in this paper we first discuss several of the reasons for which live music performance and HCI in general, and musical instruments and tabletop interfaces in particular, can lead to a fertile two-way cross-pollination that can equally benefit both fields. After that, we present the reacTable, a musical instrument based on a tabletop interface that exemplifies several of these potential achievements.