On the association of interparental conflict with developing behavioral inhibition and behavior problems in early childhood.

Associations between interparental conflict and the development of temperament characteristics have seldom been addressed; moreover, studies on the impact of interparental conflict on developing behavior problems in infancy and early childhood are relatively rare. The authors therefore aimed to contribute to the study of these issues. A sample of 64 families was investigated longitudinally. At the infant age of 4 months, negative emotionality was measured with a laboratory routine. When infants were 4, 8, and 12 months old, maternal sensitivity was assessed during home observations, and interparental conflict was measured by means of questionnaires. When infants were 30 months old, behavioral inhibition was measured in 2 laboratory fear episodes, and behavior problems were assessed with a structured clinical interview of the primary caregiver. Interparental conflict and infant negative emotionality were significantly and independently associated with subsequent behavioral inhibition. The association of interparental conflict with behavior problems was moderated by infant negative emotionality. Infants high in negative emotionality developed more serious behavior problems when exposed to high interparental conflict, whereas the association was not significant in infants low in negative emotionality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chemical stability of laminated AlN/AlN:H films

Highly adherent and chemically stable coatings of aluminum nitride are produced by ion beam sputter deposition of graded concentration films of AlN:H_x, where x ranges to zero (AlN) at the outer surface of the film. These layered structures exhibit the good adhesion of AlN:H while maintaining the chemical stability of A1N. On the basis of scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, films deposited on room temperature substrates (metal or mica) form layers that are smooth (structures smaller than 6 nm) and that remain so for periods longer than one month. Fourier transform spectroscopy indicates that they are chemically unchanged by exposure to air for two months.     

Thermal performance estimation for ventilated PV facades

This paper explores different approaches to thermal performance estimation for ventilated photovoltaic (PV) facades. In particular, an extension of the familiar heat loss and radiation gain factors (U and g values respectively) has been employed to take account of the energy transfer to the facade ventilation air. In total, four terms describing ventilation gains and transmission losses in terms of irradiance and temperature components are defined which characterise the performance of the facade in total. Steady state analysis has been applied in order to express these four parameters in terms of the detailed heat transfer process within the facade. This approach has been applied to the ventilated PV facade of the public library at Mataró, Spain. Monthly U and g values have been derived and the associated thermal energy gains calculated for various climates. An alternative, simpler approach views the ventilated façade as a single solar air collector. The applicability of the standard expression for solar collector efficiency has been investigated through examination of the Mataró data. Summer and winter energy yield calculations carried out on this basis have been compared to the four parameter approach.     

On the reaction of L-ascorbic acid with propylamine under various conditions: quantification of the main products by HPLC/DAD

 The reaction of _L-ascorbic acid (AA) with proteins (protein ascorbylation) has a considerable impact on food processing and health. So far four products have been isolated and identified which can be formed from AA and lysine derivatives. Thus, 2-deoxy-2-(propylamino)ascorbic acid, 3-deoxy-3-(propylamino)ascorbic acid, oxalic acid monopropylamide and oxalic acid dipropylamide were synthesized and an HPLC system for their separation and quantification was developed. Then, mixtures of AA and propylamine, as a model compound for lysine derivatives, were reacted under various conditions and product yields were determined in relation to reaction time, temperature, amine concentration and pH value. The results were discussed in detail and can help to evaluate the contribution of the four products to protein and lysine ascorbylation under different conditions. Received: 2 September 1997 / Revised version: 27 November 1997     

Blairgowrie: The Meaning of Place

Defining the meaning of a specific place is difficult. Blairgowrie is a peaceful and naturally protected beach haven on the Nepean Peninsula on the tip of the Mornington Peninsula, in Victoria, Australia. When a major development is perceived as threatening the quality of place, it is perhaps already too late to begin to name its characteristics or particular attributes. The evocative and poetic qualities of Blairgowrie do not reveal themselves immediately. Only over a period of time, and by visiting at various times of the day in all seasons, can one begin to fathom its moods, its soul, its many colours; and to touch its memories. Here sea and sky can meet, or divide, totally unobstructed, depending on climatic conditions, seasonal weather patterns and diurnal changes. It is still possible to get a sense of scale and wide-angle limitless vision. When a Safe Boat Harbour was proposed for Blairgowrie, residents came out in force to voice their objections or their support. A tribunal hearing was put in place. In light of the dismissal of qualitative data, of reflective experiential material, of community opinion, of values of the 'other' in planning tribunal hearings, this paper attempts to build a case for putting into words 'the meaning of place'. The Safe Boat Harbour proposal was the catalyst for this exploration of 'meaning of place', and is not itself primarily the subject of this paper. This very personal paper begins to examine the meaning of this place. Through images, perceptions, and representations; through time; history, topography; flora and fauna: it attempts to find a way of coming to terms with this extraordinary land/seascape. In the long term this project aims to produce relevant, authoritative, and defensible research that provides the context and rationale for the selection and assessment of places of outstanding heritage significance. Further, it will provide a case study in support of new planning regulations for 'place' zones (Mant, 2001) rather than the generic land use zones, which are current in Victoria.     

Recent Changes in U.S. Food and Drug Law: Implications for Drug Development

This paper examines in detail the Waxman/Hatch Act and the NDA Rewrite, from both an implementation point of view and from a world-wide research and development perspective. The central theme of these regulatory changes appears to be consistent with U.S. drug policy of the past two decades, i.e., cost containment, primarily, followed by uniformity and efficiency in the regulatory review process. These recent changes, just as the 1962 Drug Ammendments 22 years earlier, will continue to have profound effects upon the sites at which pharmaceutical research and development is carried out.     

Characteristics of picoliter droplet dried residues as standards for direct analysis techniques

The characteristics of dried residues of picodroplets of single-, two-, and three-element aqueous solutions, which qualify these as reference materials in the direct analysis of single particles, single cells, and other microscopic objects using, e.g., laser ablation inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-TOF-MS) and micro-X-ray fluorescence (MXRF), were evaluated. Different single-, two-, and three-element solutions (0.01-1 g/L) were prepared in picoliter volume (around 130 pL) with a thermal inkjet printing technique. An achievable dosing precision of 4-15% was calculated by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) determination of the transferred elemental mass of an array of 100 droplets. The size of the dried residues was determined by optical microscopy to be 5-20 microm in diameter depending on the concentration and the surface material. The elemental distribution of the dried residues was determined with synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence (SR-MXRF) analyses. The MXRF results show high uniformity for element deposition of every single droplet with an RSTD of 4-6% depending on the concentration of spotted solution. The shape and height profile of dried residues from picoliter droplets were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that these dry to give symmetrical spherical segments with maximum heights of 1.7 microm. The potential of this technique for direct LA-ICP-TOF-MS analysis is shown.