Aging and reflective processes of working memory: Binding and test load deficits.

It was hypothesized that age-related deficits in episodic memory for feature combinations (e.g., B. L. Chalfonte & M. K. Johnson, 1996) signal, in part, decrements in the efficacy of reflective component processes (e.g., M. K. Johnson, 1992) that support the short-term maintenance and manipulation of information during encoding (e.g., F. I. M. Craik, R. G. Morris, & M. L. Gick, 1990; T. A. Salthouse, 1990). Consistent with this, age-related binding deficits in a working memory task were found in 2 experiments. Evidence for an age-related test load deficit was also found: Older adults had greater difficulty than young adults when tested on 2 features rather than 1, even when binding was not required. Thus, disruption of source memory in older adults may involve deficits in both encoding processes (binding deficits) and monitoring processes (difficulty accessing multiple features, evaluating them, or both). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stimulation of polygalacturonase production in an immobilized system by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus</Emphasis> sp.: effect of pectin and glucose

The synthesis of polygalacturonases (PG) is known to be influenced by Aspergillus growth conditions, namely, environmental factors and pectin content in the cultivation medium containing a mixed carbon source. Optimal conditions were attained at a temperature of 30 °C and an initial pH of 4.5. PG activity (3.29 and 2.48 U/mL) was determined after a two-day culture of Aspergillus sp. HC1 and Aspergillus sp. CC1, respectively, in a basic medium containing 2% citrus pectin as the sole carbon source. The addition of glucose (2% w/v) to the basic medium led to a 2-fold increase in PG production. However, enzyme synthesis was repressed when a higher concentration of glucose was used in the medium containing the mixed carbon source. Spores from the two fungi were immobilized in a 3% Ca–alginate system and the mechanical strength of the gel beads allowed the use of this process system 6-fold longer (288 h) than the free culture. In the Aspergillus sp. CC1 immobilized system, PG production increased nearly 10-fold in the medium with 2% glucose added (5.95 U/mL) in comparison to the medium without sugar (0.55 U/mL). The results demonstrate that a different response in activity was produced by free and entrapped spore systems. PG production remained approximately constant throughout the six 48 h cycles in the medium containing citrus pectin (2% w/v) as the sole carbon source.     

Identification of wax esters inTetrahymena pyriformis

Wax esters, isolated fromTetrahymena pyriformis, have been found to contain 45% branched chain alcohols and 76% branched chain fatty acids. No esters of tetrahymanol or of sterols were found.     

Historical and developmental roots of female dependency.

Analyzes the nexus of female care and dependency from the theoretical perspective developed by K. Horney between 1937 and 1980. It is asserted that the caring and nurturing characteristics often associated with female personality are frequently compounded with dependency and repressed anger. Based on Horney's theory, these traits are linked to a developmental response to historically rooted family relations in which females are devalued and expected to care for others, leading to a conflict between compliant nurturance and underlying self-hatred and rage. It is argued that to create a new ethos of care that is universal and free of female dependency requires at least 3 fundamental changes, including (a) expanding the realm of giving and receiving beyond the private realm of families, (b) actively challenging the assumption of male entitlement to unconditional and unilateral nurturance from females, and (c) working through and overcoming the consequences of the nurturing imperative in women's lives. It is concluded that, to learn to give themselves, women must risk being considered selfish by others and their own inner, critical voices and work through the fear and rage to the felt discovery that they themselves are worth caring for. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Imperfect quarter-waveplate compensation in Sagnacinterferometer-type current sensors

We analyze scale factor errors associated with integrating imperfect quarter-waveplates into loop and in-line Sagnac interferometer fiber-optic current sensors. We show that relatively large imperfections in the quarter-waveplates can be tolerated in the loop version when the birefringence axes of the two quarter-waveplates are oriented 45° with respect to each other. For the in-line version, we demonstrate an electronic signal processing scheme that desensitizes the scale factor to imperfections in the quarter-waveplate     

A meta-analysis of outcome studies comparing bona fide psychotherapies: Empiricially, "all must have prizes."

This meta-analysis tested the Dodo bird conjecture, which states that when psychotherapies intended to be therapeutic are compared, the true differences among all such treatments are 0. Based on comparisons between treatments culled from 6 journals, it was found that the effect sizes were homogeneously distributed about 0, as was expected under the Dodo bird conjecture, and that under the most liberal assumptions, the upper bound of the true effect was about .20. Moreover, the effect sizes (a) were not related positively to publication date, indicating that improving research methods were not detecting effects, and (b) were not related to the similarity of the treatments, indicating that more dissimilar treatments did not produce larger effects, as would be expected if the Dodo bird conjecture was false. The evidence from these analyses supports the conjecture that the efficacy of bona fide treatments are roughly equivalent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects from log-yard stormwater runoff on the microalgae Scenedesmus subspicatus: intra-storm magnitude and variability

This paper describes the effects posed by stormwater runoff from an industrial log-yard on the microalgae Scenedesmus subspicatus. The effects of stormwater runoff sampled during two rain events were determined by exposing S. subspicatus cells to different concentrations (% v:v) of each sample. The effects were measured as the percentage change in growth rates in relation to a control culture after exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The runoff from the first rain event had no negative effects to S. subspicatus, posing in most cases growth stimulation, whereas the runoff from the second rain event inhibited algae growth. Differences in runoff physico-chemical characteristics combined with the hydrological factors of each rain event explained these opposite effects. The hypothesis of toxic first flush phenomenon was confirmed in the second rain event on the basis of normalized inhibitory effects and runoff volume. It was found that 42, 51 and 50% of the inhibitory effects during exposures of 24, 48 and 72 h were associated with the initial 4% of the total discharged volume. The fact that negative effects were observed in the two runoff events analyzed, raises concern about the potential environmental threats posed by runoff originated from wood-based industrial areas during the entire hydrological year.     

Characteristics of Cast Stone cementitious waste form for immobilization of secondary wastes from vitrification process

The high-temperature in vitrification process of radioactive wastes could cause radioactive technetium (⁹⁹Tc) in secondary liquid wastes to become volatile. Solidified cementitious waste forms at low temperature were developed to immobilize radioactive secondary waste. This research focuses on the characterization of a cementitious waste form called Cast Stone. Properties including compressive strength, surface area, phase composition, and technetium leaching were measured. The results indicate that technetium diffusivity is affected by simulant type. Additionally, ettringite and AFm (Al₂O₃–Fe₂O₃–mono) main crystalline phases were formed during hydration. The Cast Stone waste form passed the qualification requirements for a secondary waste form, which are compressive strength of 3.45 MPa and technetium diffusivity of 10^?9 cm²/s. Cast Stone was found to be a good candidate for immobilizing secondary waste streams.