A comparison of 1D and 2D (unbiased) experimental methods for measuring CSA/DD cross-correlated relaxation

A survey was undertaken within four dairy farms in Al-Kharj area, Saudi Arabia, to measure the selenium (Se) content in the soil, alfalfa, and water samples. Selenium was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry. Selenium content in the studied soil samples was low, and, in some farms, the Se content of alfalfa approached that in the low-Se zone in China. This may be reflected in the dietary Se-intake level of the Saudi population with an increased risk for developing Se deficiency-associated diseases. We suggest that extensive surveys of the Se status should be carried out in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Se supplementation of the soil may be advisable.     

Content effects in problem categorization and problem solving.

In many domains, the content of a problem (i.e., its surface cover story) provides useful clues as to the type of problem it is and to its solution. Five experiments examined this role of problem content on the problem solution and categorization of algebra word problems with experienced participants. In the first experiment, when problem content was atypical for the the problem's deep structure, people were worse at solving the problem. Differences were also detected in the problem solution where the problem's content was highly correlated with its deep structure versus problems where content was neutral to their deep structure. In the other experiments, problem categorization and determination of information relevance depended on how closely the problem's content matched its deep structure. These results suggest that content may be influential even for experienced problem solvers. The discussion examines the implications for problem schema access and application. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of bilateral lesions of the suprachiasmatic nucleus on hyperglycemia caused by 2-deoxy-D-glucose and vasoactive intestinal peptide in rats

A disturbed calcium homeostasis characterizes diabetic pregnancy. This study documents changes in bone mineral composition in diabetic pregnant rats and examines the effect of insulin replacement. Control pregnant (CP), diabetic pregnant (DP) and insulin-treated DP (DPi) rats were assessed for femoral calcium and magnesium content, bone mineral density (BMD) and the ratio of hypertrophic to maturing and proliferative cells in the femoral growth plate. DP rats showed a significantly (P < 0.01) lower body weight, femoral weight and length than CP rats. Femoral calcium and magnesium content was also significantly (P < 0.05) lower in DP rats, as was ash weight. When calcium and magnesium were normalized for ash weight no significant differences were apparent. A significantly (P < 0.05) lower total BMD at the distal femur was seen in DP rats. This comprised a significantly (P < 0.01) lower trabecular BMD with no significant change in cortical BMD. A significantly (P < 0.05) higher ratio of hypertrophic to maturing and proliferative cells of the femoral growth plate was evident in DP animals. DPi rats showed normal blood glucose concentrations and femoral growth plate histology. DPi rats also showed normal femoral weight and length but only partially restored femoral ash weight and mineral content. Insulin failed to normalize total or trabecular BMD. Diabetes mellitus clearly has a marked effect on bone growth and mineral content in pregnancy which may be relevant to overall calcium homeostasis. The lower bone growth, bone calcium content and trabecular BMD may be unfortunate consequences of the marked hypercalciuria reported elsewhere in diabetes and may serve to maintain normocalcaemia in the disease.     

Utilization of spent hen meal in diets for broiler chickens

Studies were conducted to evaluate spent hen meal (SHM) produced in commercial rendering plants as a nutrient source in diets for broiler chickens. Utilizing previously determined nutrient composition values, including digestible amino acid and TMEn content, diets were formulated to include 0, 5, 10, and 15% of SHM from three different locations. In the first experiment, conducted in battery pens from 1 to 21 d posthatch, diets were formulated with digestible amino acid requirements set at 90, 95, or 100% of NRC (1994) total amino acid requirements. In the second experiment, conducted in floor pens from 1 to 49 d posthatch, diets were formulated with digestible amino acid requirements set at 95% of NRC (1994) total amino acid requirements. Samples of birds from the second experiment were processed to determine the possible influence of SHM inclusion on carcass yield. Results of the present studies indicate that SHM from commercial rendering facilities can be utilized in diets for growing broiler chickens provided adjustments are made in nutrient content and digestibility. When formulated on the basis of digestible amino acid content, levels of SHM up to 10% appear acceptable based upon body weight, feed conversion, bone ash, and carcass yield. Higher inclusion rates generally reduced performance. It is apparent that differences in nutritional quality may exist among products produced by different rendering facilities; however, evaluation of products to assess nutrient quality may be difficult under commercial conditions. As more information is generated regarding typical amino acid content and digestibility of rendered SHM, the product may be used with greater confidence in commercial diets.     

Energy-saving ferroalloy production

In the laboratory, ore–coal blends consisting of small components (ore, coal, and flux) are prepared. If the coal consumption in the reduction of metals is standardized, ferroalloys with moderate iron content may be obtained; the carbon content in the alloys may be adjusted within the range 0.80–1.5%. This fundamentally new technology for the production of ferrochrome and ferromanganese permits the replacement of electric power by fuel. That considerably reduces production costs, while improving alloy quality and reducing the environmental impact of the process.     

Soil–Water Transfer Mechanism for Solidified Dredged Materials

The paper presents a study of the soil–water transfer mechanism for solidified dredged materials. Soil–water consists of free water, bound water, and hydration water. The resulting hydrates change the soil–water composition in a cement-based solidification process. A soil–water transfer model is postulated to explain the relationship between soil–water composition and cement content. The test results of solidified specimens cured after 7 and 28 days showed that the hydration water increases linearly with the cement content, and the bound water increases nonlinearly with the cement content. There exists a threshold cement content beyond which the free water is eliminated from the solidified specimen. Further, the model is used to predict the mechanical behavior of the solidified dredged materials. Below the threshold cement content, the unconfined compressive strength may be related to the bound water content. Above the threshold cement content, the shear strength may be related to the hydration water content. In addition, brittle stress-strain behavior commences when the incremental increase of bound water content begins decreasing.     

FT-IR photoacoustic depth profiling spectroscopy of enamel

Photoacoustic Fourier transform infrared (PA-FT-IR) depth profiling spectra of the enamel of an intact human tooth are obtained in a completely nondestructive fashion. The compositional and structural changes in the tissue are probed from the enamel surface to a depth of about 200 microns. These changes reflect the state of tissue development. The subsurface carbonate gradient in the enamel could be observed over the range of about 10-100 microns. The carbonate-to-phosphate ratio increases in the depth profile. The depth profile also reveals changes in the substitutional distribution of carbonate ions. Type A carbonates (hydroxyl substituted) increase relative to type B carbonates (phosphate substituted) with increasing thermal diffusion length. In addition to the changes in the carbonate ion distribution and content, the PA-FT-IR depth profile clearly indicates a dramatic increase in the protein content relative to the phosphate content with increased depth. The changes in the carbonate content and distribution, along with the changes in the protein content, may be responsible for the changes observed in the apatitic structure in the depth profile of the enamel.     

Transfer of domain-specific problem-solving procedures.

Two experiments examined transfer of mathematical problem-solving procedures learned in content-rich quantitative domains (e.g., physics, finance) to isomorphic algebra word problems dealing with other contents. In spite of content-specific embedding, many high school and college students exhibited spontaneous transfer when the variables in the learned and in the transfer problems represented similar types of quantities (e.g., speed and typing rate). Spontaneous transfer to structurally isomorphic problems with variables representing different types of quantities (e.g., speed and salary) was blocked. Protocol analyses showed that for matching quantities, transfer solutions were straightforward applications of the learned methods, whereas transfer to problems with nonmatching quantities demanded a hint for retrieval followed by an effortful process of abstraction and analogical mapping. The results suggest a complex interrelation between content and structure: Many features of the embedding content may be "screened out" as irrelevant, but content features used for interpretation of variables (e.g., intensive vs. extensive) may affect both access and use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response productivity: A methodological problem in content analysis studies in psychotherapy.

Contends that most content analysts of psychotherapy materials have failed to consider the possibility that the frequency of units coded to the categories of the content analysis system might be correlated with the total number of units produced. The existence of such relationships may confound interpretation of the association between content analysis variables and other external variables. When investigators have attempted to control for response productivity, they have usually divided the frequency of units in each category by the total number of units. This procedure does not control for response productivity and is often uninterpretable. The issues involved are discussed and demonstrated, and appropriate techniques of controlling for productivity are described. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Levels of interpretation in dynamic psychotherapy.

Interpretation of patterns and warded-off ideas and feelings may be focused at many levels of content. These content areas range from the relatively recent stressors and immediate responses to stress to the deepest levels of warded-off, unconscious scenarios, agendas, self-concepts, and role relationship models. This range from external events to the psychological manifestations of unconscious drives may also be interpreted in terms of the usual triangle of insight, involving the current situation, the therapy situation, and past situations during developmental periods. A system for describing such levels of interpretation is described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of butylated hydroxyanisole on catalase activity and malondialdehyde content in aging Zaprionus paravittiger (diptera)

Catalase activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured in whole body and mitochondrial homogenates of the banana fruit fly, Zaprionus paravittiger, fed on control and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA, 10 mM) mixed diets. Catalase activity increased during the reproductive period and decreased thereafter with age. However, the MDA content increased with advancing age in both sexes. In general, females exhibited higher catalase activity and lower MDA content as compared to their male counterparts. BHA feeding increased catalase activity significantly during all age intervals in both sexes. Mitochondrial fractions had lower catalase activity and lower MDA content than whole body homogenates. However, the pattern of changes was similar in both homogenates with age as well as on antioxidant feeding. These results suggest that BHA strengthens the defense mechanism of the insects by increasing catalase activity and reducing MDA content which may be responsible for increased longevity of insects.     

Immunohistochemical determination of estrogen and progesterone receptor content in human breast cancer. Computer-assisted image analysis (QIC score) vs. subjective grading (IRS)

Immunohistochemistry of Estrogen Receptor (ER) and Progesterone Receptor (PR) has been performed in 687 cases of human breast cancer. The staining results have been compared by (1) computer-assisted image analysis (QIC Score) and (2) subjective grading of the cryostat sections ("German" IRS). Tumors without or with only weak ER or PR content may be distinguished by both methods from tumors with a high receptor content. The QIC Score values belonging to the intermediate IRS grades are distributed over a wide range, but no negative cases were found in these categories. It is concluded from our results that subjective grading of the slides is a simple, rapid and useful method for the determination of the tissue receptor content and must not be replaced by the expensive and time-consuming computer-assisted image analysis in daily practice.     

Interpretation and change in counseling.

Although the form and content of interpretations vary considerably in counseling practice, their essential feature is that they present the client with an alternative way of labeling or construing events. Theory and research are reviewed to yield 3 contrasting models of the function of interpretation in the change process. According to the first model, interpretation content is irrelevant to change, which is instead due to attitudes conveyed by the counselor in the act of interpreting. The 2nd model suggests that any content, regardless of theory, can promote change by providing the client with a meaningful framework to use in understanding experiences and formulating solutions to problems. According to the third model, although the specific theoretical content of interpretation is irrelevant to its function, certain higher-order content variables may be important. The relative merits of the 3 models of change and their implications for research are discussed. (72 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of total body water content in horses, using deuterium oxide dilution

OBJECTIVE: To measure total body water (TBW) content in horses, using deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution. ANIMALS: Six 8- to 10-year-old healthy untrained mixed-breed horses, weighing (mean +/-SD) 503.4 +/- 64.0 kg. PROCEDURE: After a 12-hour nonfeeding period, 6 horses were given D2O (0.14 g/kg of body weight) via nasogastric tube. Blood samples were collected from a preplaced indwelling jugular vein catheter prior to and 1 to 8, 10, 12, 14, and 24 hours after administration of D2O. Blood samples were centrifuged immediately, and plasma was collected and stored at -70 C until analysis. The D2O content in plasma was measured by zinc reduction to deuterium gas. The resulting gas was measured, using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. RESULTS: Deuterium oxide was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of all horses, and reached peak (mean +/- SD) plasma concentration (1,454.4 +/- 163 delta D/ml or parts/thousand) 1 hour after administration. Plasma concentration decreased slowly during the next 2 to 3 hours, then remained statistically constant from 2 to 5 hours (early plateau phase) and 3 to 7 hours (late plateau phase) after administration. Mean +/- SEM TBW content was 623.0 +/- 2.2 ml/kg (62.3% of body weight) for the early plateau phase and 630.3 +/- 2.2 ml/kg (63.0% of body weight) for the late plateau phase. CONCLUSION: Deuterium oxide dilution appears to be of value for measurement of TBW content in horses, and has a 4-hour plateau effect. Equilibration of D2O with large intestinal water may be the reason for the prolonged equilibrium time and plateau effect seen in these horses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Deuterium oxide appears safe and efficacious for determining TBW content in horses and may be helpful for determining changes in TBW content during exercise and disease.     

Transport Properties of Rare Earth Manganese Oxide La_(0.67)Ca_(0.33)Mn_(1-x)Fe_xO_3

CompoundsofthetypeLn1-xAxMnO3(Ln =rareearth ,A =Ca ,Ba ,Sr ,etc .)havebeenthepopularsubjectsofextensiveresearchrecently ,mainlyduetotheexistenceofcolossalmagnetoresistance(CMR ) [1～ 3] .Atroomtemperature ,theperovskitecompoundLnMnO3isantiferromagneticinsulatorwhereMnistrivalent .ThepartialsubstitutionoftrivalentLnionswithdivalentionssuchasCa ,Ba ,Sr ,andPbetc .yieldsanewcompoundexhibitingstrongferro magnetismandhighmetallicconductivity .Thetrans portpropertyinthesecompoundscanbepartly…     

Development of a method for studying thematic content of psychotherapy sessions.

The authors developed a measure for categorizing the nature of the topic that clients and therapists discuss from moment to moment during psychotherapy. The Counseling Topic Classification System (CTCS) contains 55 topics and 8 emotional categories. It was used to code the thematic content of Donald Meichenbaum's and Hans Strupp's initial therapy sessions with a client named Richard. Our findings provided preliminary evidence that the CTCS is useful for coding the core topic of initial therapy sessions and that thematic content may be an important process and contextual variable. Methods are described for studying thematic content as a contextual variable and for presenting change process and discovery-oriented research findings so that they are more clinically meaningful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of aging or left ventricular hypertrophy on the human heart: contents of phosphorus metabolites measured by 31P MRS

Although both aging and hypertrophy are extremely important factors for cardiac performance, their influence on cardiac metabolism, especially that of high-energy phosphates, has not been fully elucidated as yet. Quantitative measurements of high-energy phosphates were attempted by comparing myocardial 31P NMR spectra with an external reference using depth-resolved surface-coil spectroscopy. The voxel size of the region of interest (ROI) was disk-shaped with 15-cm diameter and 25-mm thickness, but the left ventricular weight actually involved in the ROI was estimated to be between 22 and 66 g using MRI. Myocardial phosphocreatine (PCr) content and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content for the 30 normal volunteers showed significant age dependence since both decreased in relation to increasing age. Myocardial PCr content and ATP content in patients with hypertension did not differ significantly from the age-matched control group. PCr content (6.1 +/- 2.2 micromol/g wet tissue, n = 10) and ATP content (4.1 +/- 1.3 micromol/g wet tissue) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were less than the age-matched control group (n = 15; PCr: 9.7 +/- 2.5 micromol/g wet tissue, P < 0.01; ATP: 6.4 +/- 1.8 micromol/g wet tissue, P < 0.05), respectively. These results indicate that quantitative 31P MRS may be valuable in the assessment of changes in high-energy phosphate metabolism caused by aging or hypertrophy.     

Effects of age and education on the lexico-semantic content of connected speech in adults

One hundred and thirty-three subjects who considered themselves to be in good health described the bank robbery picture from an aphasia battery for French-speaking subjects. The subjects' connected speech was analyzed and various lexico-semantic measures were obtained. For the purposes of analysis, the subjects were grouped according to age and education level. Results demonstrated that subjects with fewer years of education produced less content than subjects with higher levels of education. Age also affected subjects' performance but only when considering efficiency, the number of content units as a function of time, and the number of different open-class words as a function of time. Older subjects tended to repeat the same content units (using mostly the same words) and comment on some word-finding difficulties they experienced. These behaviors may explain why older subjects were less efficient in the transmission of lexico-semantic information. The results emphasize how age can affect lexico-semantic performance, and add new data about the effects of education, which should be taken into consideration when assessing persons who may show signs of a language disorder.     

Determining the composition of electrosmelting dust

The elementary composition of electrosmelting dust is determined by atomic-emission spectrometry with inductively bound plasma, by an IR absorption method, and gravimetrically. On the basis of these data, the elementary composition may be converted so as to establish the content of metal oxides, and the content of oxygen in the dust may be determined. More complex compounds may be identified by reconstruction of the dust composition on the basis of Terra software.     

Control of redox processes in the blast furnace

Reductive blast-furnace smelting consists of multifactorial oxidative, heat-transfer, smelting, and reducing processes that involve solid carbon and are associated with carburization of the metal. Analysis yields functional relations of the zonal process with controllable parameters of the hot blast. The ore load on the coke, the batch and coke consumption, the reduction rate of iron, and the rate of slag formation may be regulated as a function of the blast flow rate. If the degree of reduction of iron declines from 0.998 to 0.96–0.98, the oxidation of the slag with respect to iron (the FeO content) may be increased to 2–10%, with slowing of the carburization of iron as the melt flows through the coke bed. Slag oxidation may be increased by the injection of powdered iron oxide into the hot blast through tuyeres. As a result, the carbon content in the metal will be 1.5–2.0%, which corresponds to the composition of austenitic steel.