Government support of psychological research: Fiscal year 1958.

"In fiscal year 1958 (ending June 30, 1958), approximately $23,900,000 were obligated by some 12 departments and subdivisions of the federal government for the conduct of research in psychology and closely related areas. This is an increase of about $8,000,000 over the support reported for fiscal year 1957, and about $13,000,000 over that for fiscal year 1956." 4 tables indicate: (a) expenditure by agency, (b) research areas in psychology supported, (c) expenditure by geographic region, (d) obligations of federal government for research by scientific fields. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parallel hexahedral meshing from volume fractions

In this work, we introduce a new method for generating Lagrangian computational meshes from Eulerian-based data. We focus specifically on shock physics problems that are relevant to Eulerian-based codes that generate volume fraction data on a Cartesian grid. A step-by-step procedure for generating an all-hexahedral mesh is presented. We focus specifically on the challenges of developing a parallel implementation using the message passing interface to ensure a continuous, conformal and good quality hex mesh.     

The ignition of oxetane in shock waves and oxidation in a jet-stirred reactor: An experimental and kinetic modeling study

The ignition and oxidation of oxetane have been studied in a single-pulse shock tube under reflected shock wave conditions and also in a jet-stirred reactor (JSR). These experiments cover a wide range of conditions: 1–10 atm, 0.5 ≤ φ ≤ 2.0, 800–1780 K. The ignition delays of oxetane measured in a shock tube have been used to propose an overall dependence of ignition delay time on the concentrations of each component in the gas as: τ = 10^−13.5 exp(13389/T₅)[C₃H₆O]^−0.36[O₂]^−0.59[Ar]^0.088 (units: seconds, moles per cubic decimeters, and Kelvin). Concentration profiles of the reactants, intermediates, and products of the oxidation of oxetane were measured in a JSR. A numerical model, consisting of a detailed kinetic reaction mechanism with 423 reactions (most of them reversible) of 63 species describes the ignition of oxetane in reflected shock waves and its oxidation in a jet-stirred reactor. Fairly good agreement between the observations and the model was obtained. The major reaction paths have been identified through detailed kinetic modeling.     

Prevalence, quantification and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. on chicken neck-skins at points of slaughter in 5 major cities located on 4 continents

Quantitative data on Campylobacter contamination of food are lacking, notably in developing countries. We assessed Campylobacter contamination of chicken neck-skins at points of slaughter in 5 major cities in Africa (Dakar in Senegal, Yaounde in Cameroon), Oceania (Noumea in New Caledonia), the Indian Ocean (Antananarivo in Madagascar) and Asia (Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in Vietnam. One hundred and fifty slaughtered chickens were collected in each of the 5 major cities from semi-industrial abattoirs or markets (direct slaughter by the seller), and 65.5% (491/750) were found to be Campylobacter-positive. Two cities, Yaounde and Noumea, demonstrated high prevalence Campylobacter detection rates (92.7% and 96.7% respectively) in contrast with HCMC (15.3%). Four species were identified among 633 isolates, namely C. jejuni (48.3%), C. coli (37.3%), C. lari (11.7%) and C. upsaliensis (1%). HCMC was the only city with C. lari isolation as was Antananarivo for C. upsaliensis. C. coli was highly prevalent only in Yaounde (69.5%). Among the 491 samples positive in Campylobacter detection, 329 were also positive with the enumeration method. The number of Campylobacter colony-forming units (CFU) per gram of neck-skin in samples positive in enumeration was high (mean of the log(10): 3.2 log(10) CFU/g, arithmetic mean: 7900CFU/g). All the cities showed close enumeration means except HCMC with a 1.81 log(10) CFU/g mean for positive samples. Semi-industrial abattoir was linked to a significant lower count of Campylobacter contamination than direct slaughter by the seller (p=0.006). On 546 isolates (546/633, 86.3%) tested for antibiotic susceptibility, resistance to erythromycin, ampicillin and ciprofloxacin was observed for respectively 11%, 19% and 50%. HCMC was the city where antibiotic resistant rates were the highest (95%, p=0.014). Considering the 329 positive chickens in Campylobacter enumeration, the mean number of resistant isolates to at least 2 different antibiotic families (19.8%), may be estimated ca. 1500CFU/g; the corresponding mean of the log(10) would be 2.5 log(10)CFU/g. As chickens are sold at slaughter and brought directly at home to be cooked, these data suggest a high probability of cross-contamination. A substantial proportion of isolates are drug-resistant, which could lead to potential public health issues. Health authorities should consider measures to reduce Campylobacter contamination of chicken during farming and at slaughter, and to provide appropriate food hygiene education. Further studies are needed in particular to investigate food-handling practices in domestic kitchens.     

Exploration of phenomena contributing to the diversity of Oenococcus oeni exopolysaccharides

Many food-grade bacteria produce exopolysaccharides (EPS) that may modify the food texture or affect their survival rate during food processing. This is the case of O. oeni, a bacterial species who drives malolactic fermentation in wine. The five strains analyzed in the present study all display both isolated genes dedicated to homopolysaccharide synthesis and gene clusters potentially associated with heteropolysaccharide synthesis. The number of isolated glycosyltransferase gene present and the gene composition of one of the operons change from one strain to the other. The soluble EPS yields and the EPS monomer composition vary depending on the strain and or the medium composition. O. oeni appears as a bacterium able to synthesize both homo and heteropolysaccharides. This unique property has rarely been described. Moreover, the abundance of the genetic determinants associated with EPS metabolism suggests that it is very important for the adaptation of the bacteria to wine.     

Chemical polymerization and electrochemical characterization of thiazines for NADH electrocatalysis applications

Electrochemically polymerized azines have been employed frequently as NADH electrocatalysts in biosensors and biofuel cells. However, some applications of these electrocatalysts do not lend themselves to electropolymerization. Therefore, this research investigates the chemical synthesis and application of poly(methylene blue) (PMB) and poly(methylene green) (PMG) in electrocatalysis. In an attempt to develop a simple synthesis for polymerized thiazines that could be immobilized on any surface, we investigated several polymerization protocols that are described in this paper. Structural analyses imply that the chemically synthesized polymers are chemically unique in comparison to the electropolymerized polymers. Amperometric investigations were used to compare the catalytic activity of chemically and electrochemically synthesized polymers as electrocatalysts for the oxidation of NADH and the chemically synthesized polymers were employed at the bioanode of a methanol/air biofuel cell to show their utility for this application.     

Poly(neutral red) as a NAD reduction catalyst and a NADH oxidation catalyst: Towards the development of a rechargeable biobattery

In this paper, we have established that poly(neutral red), PNR, functions as an electrocatalyst for the reduction and oxidation of NAD⁺/NADH in a rechargeable biobattery environment. The reversibility of this catalyst was possible only with the addition of Zn²⁺ for complexation to the redox polymer. The zinc ion complexation with the polymer facilitates electron and proton transfer to/from the substrate and the NAD⁺/NADH coenzyme without forming covalent bonds between the nicotinamide and the substrate surface. This research presents use of this reversible catalyst in a rechargeable biobattery. The rechargeable battery includes a Prussian blue cathode and a bioanode including NAD⁺-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase and zinc complexed PNR. This bioanode was coupled to the cathode with Nafion^® 212 acting as the ion exchange membrane separator between the two compartments. The biobattery has an open circuit potential of 0.545(±0.009) V when first assembled and 0.053(±0.005) V when fully discharged. However, when fully charged, the biobattery has an open circuit potential of 1.263(±0.051) V, a maximum power density of 16.3(±4.03) μW cm⁻³ and a maximum current density of 221(±13.2) μA cm⁻³. The efficiency and stability of the biobattery were studied by cycling continuously at a discharging rate of 1 C and the results obtained showed reasonable stability over 50 cycles.     

Purchasing health insurance coverage for smoking cessation treatment: employers describe the most influential information in this decision.

Employer provision of insurance coverage for smoking cessation treatment (SCT) remains spotty despite a body of treatment efficacy and cost-effectiveness evidence available to inform and support this health care purchasing decision. This qualitative study examined the information on which this coverage decision is made. In this study, state employers describe the content and sources of the most influential information in their decision to provide insurance coverage for SCT as well as a second health benefit for comparative purposes. We provide insight into the extent to which SCT evidence informs the SCT coverage decision and suggest topics and targets for research dissemination. We interviewed 55 employee benefit staff in 35 states. Responses were compared from states with and without SCT coverage to explore the types of information that may be more effective at promoting coverage. The content and sources of the information employers judged most useful varied notably between states with and without SCT coverage. Compelling evidence of the efficacy of SCT and its cost-effectiveness did not appear to play an influential role in the SCT decision among states without SCT coverage relative to states with SCT coverage. States with SCT coverage relied significantly on benefit consultants and actuaries for the information they described as most influential; in comparison, noncovered states reported service providers, staff, and the Internet as major information sources. To foster employers' provision of SCT coverage, research dissemination efforts should emphasize SCT efficacy and cost-effectiveness information and tailor communication to benefit consultants and actuaries in addition to employers themselves.     

Assessing the cost of groundwater pollution: the case of diffuse agricultural pollution in the Upper Rhine valley aquifer.

This paper presents an assessment of the costs of diffuse groundwater pollution by nitrates and pesticides for the industrial and the drinking water sectors in the Upper Rhine valley, France. Pollution costs which occurred between 1988 and 2002 are described and assessed using the avoidance cost method. Geo-statistical methods (kriging) are then used to construct three scenarios of nitrate concentration evolution. The economic consequences of each scenario are then assessed. The estimates obtained are compared with the results of a contingent valuation study carried out in the same study area ten years earlier.