An innovative direct self-control scheme for induction motor drives

The paper presents a new direct self-control (DSC) scheme for induction motor drives using the stator voltage third harmonic component in order to estimate the air-gap flux and the torque as well as to synchronize the supply voltage vector. Compared to previous DSC schemes the new one is independent from any motor parameter variation, specifically on stator resistance thus showing better performances at low speeds. The paper starts with a quick review on standard DSC main features pointing out the influence of stator resistance variations on the flux and torque control. The new DSC scheme is then introduced and evaluated by simulations and experimental tests on a 1.5 kW induction motor drive     

When the face reveals what words do not: Facial expressions of emotion, smiling, and the willingness to disclose childhood sexual abuse.

For survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), verbal disclosure is often complex and painful. The authors examined the voluntary disclosure-nondisclosure of CSA in relation to nonverbal expressions of emotion in the face. Consistent with hypotheses derived from recent theorizing about the moral nature of emotion, CSA survivors who did not voluntarily disclose CSA showed greater facial expressions of shame, whereas CSA survivors who voluntarily disclosed CSA expressed greater disgust. Expressions of disgust also signaled sexual abuse accompanied by violence. Consistent with recent theorizing about smiling behavior, CSA nondisclosers made more polite smiles, whereas nonabused participants expressed greater genuine positive emotion. Discussion addressed the implications of these findings for the study of disclosure of traumatic events, facial expression, and the links between morality and emotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

When distress does not become depression: Emotion context sensitivity and adjustment to bereavement.

Recent evidence suggests that the sensitivity of emotion responses to changing context may be a key element of psychological adjustment and psychopathology (Bonanno et al., 2007; Rottenberg, Kasch, Gross, & Gotlib, 2002). However, there have been no previous investigations to examine emotion context sensitivity and adjustment following stressful life events. This investigation addressed this deficit in a sample of middle-aged bereaved adults (N = 48) whose emotion responses were measured as they described loss and non-loss-related events during a laboratory interview 4 months after the death of their spouse or child. Symptoms of depression were assessed using structured clinical interviews at 4 and 18 months postloss. Although positive emotions were beneficial regardless of context, context sensitivity for negative emotions at 4 months predicted fewer depression symptoms at 18 months. These findings suggest that the capacity to shift negative emotion responses according to changing context may differentiate those individuals who will show improvements in depression symptoms over time from those who will show chronic impairments. Implications for future research and clinical intervention are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychopathology and resilience following traumatic injury: A latent growth mixture model analysis.

Objective: To investigate trajectories of PTSD and depression following traumatic injury using latent class growth curve modeling. Method: A longitudinal study of 330 injured trauma survivors was conducted and participants were assessed during hospitalization, and at 1, 3, and 6 months follow-up. Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) was assessed during hospitalization using the Acute Stress Disorder Interview (ASD-I), PTSD was measured at all follow-up with the Post-Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) and depression was measured at hospitalization with the (BSI) and at follow-up with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESDS). Covariates were explored, including coping self-efficacy, anger, education level, and mechanism of injury. Results: Four latent classes were identified for PTSD and Depression symptoms: chronic distress, delayed distress, recovered, and resilience. When compared to the resilient group, individuals with chronic distress were more likely to have been assaulted, had higher levels of anger, and had less coping self-efficacy. The delayed distress group had lower education levels, higher levels of coping self-efficacy, and higher levels of anger. Individuals in the recovered group had fewer years of education, and higher levels of anger. Conclusion: The majority of the injured trauma sample demonstrated resiliency, with those exhibiting distress doing so as a delayed, chronic, or recovered trajectory. Coping self efficacy, education, assaultive trauma type, and anger were important covariates of depression and PTSD trajectories. These results are similar to studies of individuals who experienced a major health threat and with survivors from the World Trade Center attacks in the U.S. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Resilience to loss and chronic grief: A prospective study from preloss to 18-months postloss.

The vast majority of bereavement research is conducted after a loss has occurred. Thus, knowledge of the divergent trajectories of grieving or their antecedent predictors is lacking. This study gathered prospective data on 205 individuals several years prior to the death of their spouse and at 6- and 18-mo postloss. Five core bereavement patterns were identified: common grief, chronic grief, chronic depression, improvement during bereavement, and resilience. Common grief was relatively infrequent, and the resilient pattern most frequent. The authors tested key hypotheses in the literature pertaining to chronic grief and resilience by identifying the preloss predictors of each pattern. Chronic grief was associated with preloss dependency and resilience with preloss acceptance of death and belief in a just world. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Let's be realistic: When grief counseling is effective and when it's not.

Comments on the article by D. Larson and W. Hoyt (see record 2007-11559-003) which argued that bereavement researchers have erroneously and unscientifically advocated the pessimistic conclusion that grief counseling is ineffective and perhaps even harmful. They proclaimed that the news is actually good: Grief counseling is not harmful but is as effective as other forms of psychotherapy. Therefore, they concluded, most or all bereaved people should be considered candidates for treatment. This kind of unwarranted optimism is as dangerous, if not more so, than an overly cautious pessimism. The current authors contend that the debate should be focused on (a) fine tuning assessment instruments so that they can best identify those bereaved people in serious clinical need and (b) further developing effective treatments that can more judiciously intervene when intervention is called for. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Helicobacter pylori prevalence in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Helicobacter pylori is consistently reported with high prevalence in HIV-negative patients with chronic gastritis and active ulcer disease. This study is an evaluation of the prevalence of H. pylori in AIDS patients, and the association with chronic gastritis, erosions, and ulcer disease. Seventy-three AIDS patients referred for the evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms underwent upper endoscopy and antral gastric biopsy. Histologic gastritis was diagnosed and degree of activity graded on hematoxylin-eosin stain. H. pylori organisms were identified by acridine orange stain. A single pathologist evaluated the biopsy specimens. H. pylori was found in 15% (11 of 73) of AIDS patients. Histologic chronic active gastritis was evident in 94.5% (69 of 73) of the study group. H. pylori was identified in 15.9% (11 of 69) of biopsy specimens with histologic chronic active gastritis. The organism was more common in biopsy specimens with a higher grade of activity in the chronic gastritis. Endoscopic erosions or ulcers were noted in 11 patients (seven gastric, four duodenal). H. pylori was present in 18% (2 of 11) of AIDS patients with erosions or ulcers. The prevalence of H. pylori in AIDS patients with histologic chronic active gastritis is much lower than the prevalence previously reported for HIV-negative patients with similar pathology. The low prevalence observed does not implicate H. pylori as the causal agent in most chronic active gastritis in the AIDS population. Impaired acid secretion may reduce colonization of gastric mucosa and explain the low rate of H. pylori observed.     

Health outcomes of women exposed to household alcohol abuse: a Family Practice Training Site Research Network (FPTSRN) study

A systematic haplotype and sequencing analysis of the HLA-DR and -DQ region in patients with narcolepsy was performed. Five new (CA)n microsatellite markers were generated and positioned on the physical map across the HLA-DQB1-DQA1-DRB1 interval. Haplotypes for these new markers and the three HLA loci were established using somatic cell hybrids generated from patients. A four-marker haplotype surrounding the DQB1(*)0602 gene was found in all narcolepsy patients, and was identical to haplotypes observed on random chromosomes harboring the DQB1(*)0602 allele. Eighty-six kilobases of contiguous genomic sequence across the region did not reveal new genes, and analysis of this sequence for single nucleotide polymorphisms did not reveal sequence variation among DQB1(*)0602 chromosomes. These results are consistent with other studies, suggesting that the HLA-DQ genes themselves are among the predisposing factors in narcolepsy.     

Persistence of wild Streptococcus thermophilus strains on wooden vat and during the manufacture of a traditional Caciocavallo type cheese

The present work was undertaken to evaluate the influence of the wooden dairy plant equipment on the microbiological characteristics of curd to be transformed into Caciocavallo Palermitano cheese. Traditional raw milk productions were performed concomitantly with standard cheese making trials carried out in stainless steel vat inoculated with a commercial starter. Milk from two different farms (A and B) was separately processed. The wooden vat was found to be a reservoir of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), while unwanted (spoilage and/or pathogenic) microorganisms were not hosted or were present at very low levels. All microbial groups were numerically different in bulk milks, showing higher levels for the farm B. LAB, especially thermophilic cocci, dominated the whole cheese making process of all productions. Undesired microorganisms decreased in number or disappeared during transformation, particularly after curd stretching. LAB were isolated from the wooden vat surface and from all dairy samples, subjected to phenotypic and genetic characterization and identification. Streptococcus thermophilus was the species found at the highest concentration in all samples analyzed and it also dominated the microbial community of the wooden vat. Fourteen other LAB species belonging to six genera (Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Streptococcus and Weissella) were also detected. All S. thermophilus isolates were genetically differentiated and a consortium of four strains persisted during the whole traditional production process. As confirmed by pH and the total acidity after the acidification step, indigenous S. thermophilus strains acted as a mixed starter culture.