A survey of the sulphur content of wheat grown in Britain

In a survey of the sulphur content of wheat grown on British farms in 1981 and 1982 the percentage of sulphur in the grain ranged from 0.13% to 0.21%, equivalent to 0.11–0.18% at 14% moisture content, with a mean of 0.17%. The nitrogen-to-sulphur ratios, indicators of baking quality, were 11.5:1 and 13.1:1 in 1981 and 1982, respectively. The larger value in 1982 is attributed to the crop taking up much nitrogen during the exceptionally wet June. The ratio, however, was not critical in any sampler. Mean sulphur contents computed for ADAS regions showed that, generally, grain grown in the English Midlands, Eastern counties and South East contained the most sulphur, and that in Scotland least. Maps of both sulphur content and the proportion of sulphur that occurs as sulphate were made by simple block kriging with blocks 14 × 14 km. These showed that above-average sulphur contents occurred mainly in a belt of country extending from London to the West Midlands and South Yorkshire, with a maximum in the vicinity of Peterborough. Crops grown in Scotland contained least. The pattern corresponds closely with the deposition from the atmosphere predicted by the Central Electricity Research Laboratories. The distribution of sulphate as a percentage of total sulphur also had a marked regional pattern with largest concentrations in Cheshire, South Yorkshire, Fife and the rural Midlands of England.     

Isotopic and geochemical assessment of in situ biodegradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons

Currently there is no in situ method to detect and quantify complete mineralization of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) to CO2. Combined isotopic measurements in conjunction with traditional chemical techniques were used to assess in situ biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CT). Vadose zone CHC, ethene, ethane, methane, O2, and CO2 concentrations were analyzed using gas chromatography over 114 days at the Savannah River Site. delta13C of CHC and delta13C and 14C of vadose zone CO2, sediment organic matter, and groundwater dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC)were measured. Intermediate metabolites of TCE and CT accounted for < or = 10% of total CHCs. Delta13C of cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE) was always heavier than TCE indicating substantial DCE biodegradation. 14C-CO2 values ranged from 84 to 128 percent modern carbon (pMC), suggesting that plant root-respired CO2 was dominant. 14C-CO2 values decreased over time (up to 12 pMC), and contaminated groundwater 14C-DIC (76 pMC) was substantially depleted relative to the control (121 pMC). 14C provided a direct measure of complete CHC mineralization in vadose zone and groundwater in situ and may improve remediation strategies.     

Longitudinal outcomes of young high-risk adolescents with imaginary companions.

The creation and cultivation of an imaginary companion is considered to be a healthy form of pretend play in early childhood, but there tends to be a less positive view of older children who have them. To test the extent that having an imaginary companion in middle school is associated with positive or negative outcomes, an ethnically diverse sample of 152 middle school children at high risk for developing problem behaviors were interviewed about imaginary companions, coping styles, and problem behaviors. Although having a current imaginary companion (n = 13) was associated with using more positive coping strategies, peer nomination data indicated that these children had low social preference with peers. In addition, our data indicated that these children were perceived by their parents as having more problem behaviors compared with young adolescents who never had imaginary companions (n = 108) or children who had imaginary companions in the past (n = 31). However, a longitudinal follow-up at the end of high school indicated that the children who had imaginary companions in middle school showed greater positive adjustment on a multiple-indicator adjustment construct. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

How useful are indices of personality pathology when assessing domestic violence perpetrators?

There has been considerable debate about profiling personality pathology when assessing and treating male perpetrators of domestic violence (DV). This study used the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI–III) to explore the severity and diversity of male perpetrator personality pathology and response bias in a group of DV perpetrators being assessed for a treatment program (N = 177). We analyzed the sample using the interpretive guidelines of White and Gondolf (2000); 54% of profiles in our sample fell into categories indicative of a personality disorder, and 37% of the total sample provided profiles indicative of severe personality pathology. These percentages were higher than White and Gondolf's findings but lower than some others. There was considerable diversity of personality pathology as well, supporting the contention that there is no one male DV perpetrator profile. Because of debate concerning the manner of responding on self-report instruments, we paid special attention to response biases in our sample. Twenty-six percent of our sample exaggerated (12%) or minimized (14%) their responses. We also found that response biases on the MCMI–III Modifying Indices were related to self-reported severity of psychopathology. This suggests that assessing severity of psychopathology is inadequate without reference to such biases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)