Effects of the SMART Classroom Curriculum to Reduce Child and Family Screen Time

Evidence for adverse effects of screen media exposure has led to recommendations to limit children's screen time. This paper describes a randomized controlled trial of SMART (Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television), an 18-lesson, theory-based classroom curriculum to reduce screen time among third and fourth grade children in two matched public elementary schools ( n = 181). Intervention school children significantly reduced their weekday television viewing and weekday and Saturday video game playing compared to controls. Greater effects were found among boys and more adult-supervised children. Mothers, fathers, and siblings and other children in intervention school households also reduced their television viewing. The findings demonstrate the efficacy of a classroom intervention to reduce screen time among elementary school children and their family/household members.     

Genetic studies of the leptin receptor gene in morbidly obese French Caucasian families

Family studies have shown that in some populations up to 75% of the variation of body mass index can be explained by genetic factors. However, in humans, no major obesity gene has been identified to date. In contrast, there are a number of genetically well defined animal models for obesity. In two of those models (ob/ob and db/db), defects in the same pathway are responsible for obesity. Recently, some evidence has been found for the OB gene also being involved in human obesity. In this study we investigated the potential role of the OB receptor (OBR) in the etiology of massive obesity in humans using familial linkage analyses and case-control association studies. The typing of two microsatellite markers (D1S198 and D1S209), flanking the OBR gene, in 256 sib pairs showed no evidence for linkage with obesity. In order to be able to detect small gene effects, association studies with a 3'-UTR insertion/deletion polymorphism were carried out. The results of these analyses remained non-significant (chi 2 = 3.442, P = 0.18). However, subjects heterozygous for the insertion/deletion polymorphism showed a slight trend towards lower insulin values 30 min after an oral glucose load compared to homozygous individuals (P = 0.02). In summary, our results do not support a major role of the human OBR gene in the development of morbid obesity in our population.     

Factor analysis of the Marital Interaction Coding System (MICS).

A significant source of confusion in the marital observation area is the proliferation of systems for collapsing microbehavioral codes into categories. This study used an archival data set of 995 couples' videotaped conflict negotiations coded with the Marital Interaction Coding System-IV (MICS). A factor analysis was conducted to provide some empirically based guidance for the formation of coding categories. Four factors emerged for both men and women: Hostility, Constructive Problem Discussion, Humor, and Responsibility Discussion. Suggestions are made for category formation with MICS codes and for the development of a new coding system based on these results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis of arsenic species for application to biological environmental samples

Arsenic is an element that is ubiquitous in the environment and is known to form compounds with toxic, even carcinogenic properties. Arsenic toxicity is a function of its chemical form (species). Identification of arsenic species is necessary to accurately determine the transformation and fate of arsenicals as well as the actual risk posed by arsenic contamination. We report X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) measurements of 16 biologically important arsenic compounds. Solid and aqueous standards were studied for differences in XANES spectral features, white line positions, stability during exposure to the beam, and stability between two beam exposures separated by 48 h. Samples containing As(III) (11870.0-11871.7+/-0.5 eV) and As(V) (11872.6-11875.3+/-0.5 eV) were easily distinguished by white line energies and could be further subdivided into a total of seven groups. Valuable examples include As(III)-sulfur compounds (11870.0+/-0.5 eV), arsenobetaine and arsenocholine (11872.6+/-0.5 eV), and a dimethyl arsinyl riboside (11873.3+/-0.5 eV). A growing number of environmental and biological studies use X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results to complement their more traditional analyses. Results provided here are intended to help make XAS more accessible to new users interested in the study of arsenic in the environment.     

The potential effect of FOS and inulin upon probiotic bacterium performance in curdled milk matrices

Inulin and fructooligosaccharides were studied for their prebiotic effect upon growth/survival of probiotic bacteria and technological potential in probiotic food processing, via characterization of glycolysis, proteolysis and lipolysis in curdled milk matrices; the ultimate goal is the manufacture of synbiotic cheeses. Prebiotic compounds did not significantly affect growth/viability of all strains studied, except Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5. Proteolysis indices revealed considerable casein degradation in probiotic and synbiotic matrices inoculated with Bifidobacterium lactis B94 and Lactobacillus casei-01; lower values were achieved in those inoculated with L. acidophilus La-5, yet a synbiotic effect was apparent in NPN values. Lipolysis was not extensive over storage, irrespective of matrix type; however, interesting differences in terms of the qualitative free fatty acids profile were observed. CLA isomers, and α-linolenic and γ−linolenic acids were detected upon 15 d of ripening of all inoculated matrices. Principal component analysis was able to discriminate the various matrices according to degree of maturation, throughout the ripening period. Microbiological and biochemical parameters unfolded a very good technological potential, especially of B. lactis B94 and L. casei-01, to produce novel types of functional dairy matrices - although extrapolation to actual cheeses should still be done with care, because e.g. syneresis was not considered.     

Optical fibre-based methodology for screening the effect of probiotic bacteria on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in curdled milk

A methodology based on optical fibre (OF) detection was developed for screening the potential of CLA production by Lactobacillus casei-01, Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis B94 in probiotic curdled milk. The OF based methodology was validated by comparison with an analytical method based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and it showed comparable linearity (between 5 and 130 μg), accuracy and detection limits, which ranged from 1.92 to 2.56 μg for CLA methyl ester and oleic acid methyl ester, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed OF based methodology was an advantageous analytical methodology for screening CLA production in probiotic curled milk, due to its compact design and effective cost of analysis.     

Graphene oxide conversion into controllably carboxylated graphene layers via photoreduction process in the inert atmosphere

Abstract

The one-step method for graphene oxide (GO) simultaneous reduction and carboxylation via ultraviolet irradiation in the inert atmosphere has been reported. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) data revealed that the proposed approach allows to obtain reduced graphene oxide (rGO) films, containing up to 10 at.% of carboxyl groups. The carboxyl groups concentration can be tuned within the range of 3 to 10 at.% by controlling the oxidation degree of the irradiated GO via the preliminary low-temperature air heating. Furthermore, no carboxylation effect is observed in the case of irradiation of the completely reduced GO films. This coincides with our previous results, validating the proposed model of GO carboxylation based on photoinduced conversion of basal-plane hydroxyl groups and ketones into carboxyl ones. Despite a different degree of carboxylation, all the obtained samples demonstrate almost complete elimination of basal plane groups and restoration of the graphene flakes aromatic structure. This fact is emphasized by the sheet resistance measurements, demonstrating that the obtained C-xy graphene exhibits high electrical conductivity. As a net result, the material obtained by the presented method shows promising applications in the manufacturing of biosensor transducers owing to both its conductive nature and presence of carboxyl groups, playing the role of the anchoring points for biomolecules.     

Challenges of eWALL Wireless Interoperability

Due to development of different technologies there has been significant improvement in quality of life. As a result of that, average person’s lifetime duration has been increased. That triggers the problem of independent living of senior citizens. One of the main concerns of the world today is how to enable senior citizens to live independently. As a response to that, systems like eWALL are being developed. eWALL for Active Long Living is a FP7 funded project and it aims to develop system which will enable elderly people to live independently. These systems consist of a large number of sensors which make wireless sensor network. In this paper, different wireless technologies that can be used for communication in systems that are designed to support independent living of elderly people, have been described. The most important focus is at wireless personal area network technologies, like ZigBee, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy and wireless local area network technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi). There are many obstacles in designing wireless sensor network and most of them concern energy efficiency and interoperability of different technologies that are being used for communication. The main challenge in the current technology world is tremendous increase of use of various wireless devices and technologies, which can cause relatively high interference, so that the wireless devices can stop working. Using cognitive radio in solving the interoperability problem of different wireless technologies in wireless sensor networks has become interesting research topic. In this paper, research on interoperability of different wireless technologies is presented. Using Spectrum Engineering Advanced Monte Carlo Analysis Tool wireless sensors network in home environment was modelled. Interference based on devices layout and activity was investigated. Also, possible improvements that can be made with cognitive radio are investigated and obtained results are given in this paper.     

新古典主义建筑在中国和西方

该文首先提出与古典主义相对应的新古典主义概念,接着对在中国和西方发生的四次新古典主义建筑现象从时间,社会背景,建筑风格,建筑类型,当时的社会需求和社会意义等方面进行分析比较,最后通过时间上的纵向比较和空间上的横向比较得出结论。从而对时下流行的“新古典主义”一词,进行全面的理解和把握。