Influence of reducing conditions on metallic elements released from various contaminated soil samples

The redox conditions of soil may have significant consequences for the mobility of metallic elements (ME), but unlike pH, very few studies have investigated this parameter. A procedure was established to study the solubilization of ME from soil samples in various reducing conditions using a batch method and sodium ascorbate solutions. The change in redox potential from +410 to +10 mV was studied from four contaminated soil samples (designated A-D) of different origins and compositions. The results showed that ME mobilization greatly increased with decreasing redox potential within a limited and very sensitive range. Depending on the soil sample studied, various sensitive ranges of potentials were obtained (A, 220-345 mV; B, 280-365 mV; C, 260-360 mV; and D, 240-380 mV), and the induced percentages of ME mobilization varied (i.e., maximal values for Zn: A, 45%; B, 59%; C, 53%; and D, 58%). The results could be explained by the combined effect of potential and pH decrease on ME-carrying phases; in particular, Fe and Mn (oxy)hydroxides.     

(Re)constructing Informality and “Doing Regularization” in the Conservation Zone of Mexico City

This paper examines the introduction of land-use planning requirements into the regularization process of informal settlements in areas designated as “conservation land” in Mexico City. Since 1997, the government has increasingly deployed digital technologies to map and track informal settlement in conservation land in order to select those eligible for reclassification as “residential land use”: a prerequisite for other stages in the regularization process, including property titling, access to urban services and subsidised loans for home improvements. We argue that the incorporation of land use planning into the discursive and material enactments of regularization continues to reproduce the social class divisions behind the otherwise rather tenuous distinction between formal and informal urban development. Although presented as a technical concern by planners, regularization remains embedded in political processes and outcomes, a characteristic long recognised in the abundant literature on the subject. What is new is the geo-referencing of informality as part of land use planning, as this alters the dynamics of regularization processes, now involving the everyday planning practices of local government. This experience thus suggests the need for re-conceptualising informality as a form of selective spatial regulation and governance integral to the planning and urban development process.     

Synthesis and Superior Optical‐Limiting Properties of Fluorene‐Thiophene‐Benzothiadazole Polymer‐Functionalized Graphene Sheets

A polymer based on fluorene, thiophene, and benzothiadazole as the donor–spacer–acceptor triad is covalently coupled to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets via diazonium coupling with phenyl bromide, followed by Suzuki coupling. These polymer–graphene hybrids show good solubility in organic solvents, such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, dichlorobenzene, and N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), and exhibit an excellent optical‐limiting effect with a 532‐nm laser beam. The optical‐limiting threshold energy values (0.93 J cm^?2 for G–polymer 1 and 1.12 J cm^?2 for G–polymer 2) of these G–polymer hybrids are better than that of carbon nanotubes (3.6 J cm^?2).     

Normal housing with specialized supports: A psychiatric rehabilitation approach to living in the community.

Presents a conceptual and historical overview of residential services for Ss with psychiatric disability and challenges the appropriateness and effectiveness of the "continuum of services" model. The authors propose that the goal of residential services should be to assist all people with psychiatric disabilities to choose, obtain, and maintain normal housing and that rehabilitation technology is currently available to accomplish this goal. Data indicate that despite high costs, most state mental health systems are continuing to make large scale investments in facility-based residential programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of isolation conditions on brain regional enkephalin and !b-endorphin levels and vocalizations in 10-day-old rat pups.

Young rat pups were isolated from their dams under different conditions. The endogenous opioid peptides were measured in brain regions after isolation. Because there is no uptake mechanism for peptides released at the synapse and because released peptide is rapidly degraded enzymatically, decreases in peptide levels over this time course can be interpreted as release from terminals. No change was observed in either peptide in the hypothalamus, septum, or amygdala after isolation compared with controls. Significant decreases were seen in the midbrain after isolation. A comparison of peptide levels and ultrasonic vocalizations in the pups isolated in familiar, novel, or control conditions was also performed. Enkephalin levels in the midbrain were decreased in familiar and novel conditions, but in the brainstem opioid peptides were decreased only in the familiar condition. The greater involvement of the opioid peptides in the pups isolated in familiar conditions may contribute to the ability of naltrexone to block vocalization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing learning rates by increasing student response rates: A summary of research.

Addresses prevention and remediation of learning problems within the context of time required to learn. Research on specific procedures which increase accurate responding rates and learning rates are presented. Several procedures that have been shown to improve learning rates without increasing time allocated for instruction during both teacher-led instruction and independent seat-work are described. These procedures are easy to implement, require few resources, and can be applied across a wide variety of instructional techniques. School psychologists may help prevent and remedy learning rate problems by assisting educators to implement these curricula and by participating in the development and empirical validation of other procedures and techniques that increase rates of accurate student responding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treatment adherence, competence, and outcome in individual and family therapy for adolescent behavior problems.

This study examined the impact of treatment adherence and therapist competence on treatment outcome in a controlled trial of individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) for adolescent substance use and related behavior problems. Participants included 136 adolescents (62 CBT, 74 MDFT) assessed at intake, discharge, and 6-month follow-up. Observational ratings of adherence and competence were collected on early and later phases of treatment (192 CBT sessions, 245 MDFT sessions) by using a contextual measure of treatment fidelity. Adherence and competence effects were tested after controlling for therapeutic alliance. In CBT only, stronger adherence predicted greater declines in drug use (linear effect). In CBT and MDFT, (a) stronger adherence predicted greater reductions in externalizing behaviors (linear effect) and (b) intermediate levels of adherence predicted the largest declines in internalizing behaviors, with high and low adherence predicting smaller improvements (curvilinear effect). Therapist competence did not predict outcome and did not moderate adherence-outcome relations; however, competence findings are tentative due to relatively low interrater reliability for the competence ratings. Clinical and research implications for attending to both linear and curvilinear adherence effects in manualized treatments for behavior disorders are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of Quercetin Pharmacokinetics Following Oral Supplementation in Humans

Abstract: The objective of the study was to investigate the absorption of quercetin aglycone in 18 healthy human subjects administered via the following oral carrier systems: suspension of quercetin (quercetin QU995 powder in Tang^® and spring water), nutritional bars (First Strike?), and chews (RealFX? Q‐Plus?). Subjects were divided into 3 groups of 6 individuals each receiving 500 mg quercetin in one of the aforementioned formulations. Blood levels were monitored immediately pre‐ and for 32 h postadministration. The concentration of total quercetin in blood samples was determined by solid phase extraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by noncompartmental modeling using Kinetica software. The C_max of quercetin was highest with RealFX? Q‐Plus? Chews (1051.9 ± 393.1 μg/L) achieved within 3.3 h as compared to that for First Strike? Bars (698.1 ± 189.5 μg/L in 2.3 h) and Tang^® suspension (354.4 ± 87.6 μg/L in 4.7 h). The results showed no statistically significant difference in quercetin absorption among groups due to high variability within groups receiving quercetin from same dosage form. This study represents the first comprehensive evaluation of quercetin absorption from quercetin fortified oral food products at doses commonly used for quercetin supplementation. Practical Application: The current study describes for the first time, comprehensive evaluation of quercetin PK in humans from quercetin fortified oral food products at doses commonly used for quercetin supplementation. Owing to quercetin's potent antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory actions, quercetin is widely being used as a nutritional supplement. In order to maximize the bioavailability of quercetin for its use in efficacy studies, it is important to determine its ideal oral carrier system and route for its delivery. The current research unveils vital information about quercetin supplementation to the international community, especially to soldiers, athletes, and the dietary supplement industry.