Personality Assessment Inventory substance-use scales: Convergent and discriminant relations with the Addiction Severity Index in a residential chemical dependence treatment setting.

This study examined the convergent and discriminant validity of the Alcohol Problems (ALC) and Drug Problems (DRG) scales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991). Participants were 103 male veterans (mean age?=?41.7 years) in a Veterans Affairs residential treatment for chemical dependence. The PAI was compared to the Addiction Severity Index (ASI; McLellan et al., 1992), a semistructured interview. The sampling strategy that was used resulted in a diverse sample (66% African American, 33% Caucasian; 59% with primary alcohol diagnosis, 38% with primary drug diagnosis, 56% with comorbid alcohol and drug diagnoses) and adequately variable ALC and DRG scores. Results supported the convergent validity of both the ALC and DRG scales in relation to both the ASI and substance-use diagnosis. The ALC scale also demonstrated excellent discriminant validity, whereas the discriminant validity of the DRG scale was less impressive. Despite this, the DRG scale performed better in the current diverse sample than observed in an earlier study (Alterman et al., 1995). Recommendations for the use of the PAI in chemical dependence treatment settings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Study of a 231 French Patient Cohort Significantly Extends the Mutational Spectrum of the Two Major Usher Genes MYO7A and USH2A

Usher syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital hearing loss combined with retinitis pigmentosa, and in some cases, vestibular areflexia. Three clinical subtypes are distinguished, and MYO7A and USH2A represent the two major causal genes involved in Usher type I, the most severe form, and type II, the most frequent form, respectively. Massively parallel sequencing was performed on a cohort of patients in the context of a molecular diagnosis to confirm clinical suspicion of Usher syndrome. We report here 231 pathogenic MYO7A and USH2A genotypes identified in 73 Usher type I and 158 Usher type II patients. Furthermore, we present the ACMG classification of the variants, which comprise all types. Among them, 68 have not been previously reported in the literature, including 12 missense and 16 splice variants. We also report a new deep intronic variant in USH2A. Despite the important number of molecular studies published on these two genes, we show that during the course of routine genetic diagnosis, undescribed variants continue to be identified at a high rate. This is particularly pertinent in the current era, where therapeutic strategies based on DNA or RNA technologies are being developed.     

Characterization of high refractive index semiconductor films by surface plasmon resonance

Si-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the Kretschmann-Raether geometry is considered as a platform for the optical measurement of high refractive index films. The implementation of the SPR effect becomes possible due to the relatively high index of refraction of Si compared to most materials. As examples we study the SPR responses for some important semiconductor-based films, including laser-ablated porous silicon and thin germanium films. Using SPR data, we determine the refractive indices of these films for different parameters (thickness and porosity) and ambiences. We also discuss novel SPR biosensor architectures with the use of these solid films.     

Biocompatibility of a lab-on-a-pill sensor in artificial gastrointestinal environments

In this paper, we present a radiotelemetry sensor, designed as a lab-in-a-pill, which incorporates a two-channel microfabricated sensor platform for real-time measurements of temperature and pH. These two parameters have potential application for use in remote biological sensing (for example they may be used as markers that reflect the physiological environment or as indicators for disease, within the gastrointestinal tract). We have investigated the effects of biofouling on these sensors, by exploring their response time and sensitivity in a model in vitro gastrointestinal system. The artificial gastric and intestinal solutions used represent a model both for fasting, as well as for the ingestion of food and subsequent digestion to gastrointestinal chyme. The results showed a decrease in pH sensitivity after exposure of the sensors for 3 h. The response time also increased from an initial measurement time of 10 s in pure GI juice, to ca. 25 s following the ingestion of food and 80 s in simulated chyme. These in vitro results indicate that changes in viscosity in our model gastrointestinal system had a pronounced effect on the unmodified sensor.     

Effect of copper doping on physical properties of nanocrystallized SnS zinc blend thin films grown by chemical bath deposition

SnS: Cu thin films have been successfully prepared on Pyrex substrates using low cost chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique with different copper doped concentration (y = [Cu]/[Sn] = 5%, 6%, 8%, 9% and 10%). The structure, the surface morphology and the optical properties of the SnS:Cu films were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and spectrophotometer measurements, respectively. To obtain a thickness of the order of 780 ± 31 nm for absorber material in solar cell devices, a system of multilayer has been prepared. It is found that the physical properties of tin sulphide are affected by Cu-doped concentration. In fact, X-ray diffraction study showed that better cristallinity in zinc blend structure with preferential orientations (111)^ZB and (200)^ZB, was obtained for y equal to 6%. According to the AFM analysis we can remark that low average surface roughness (RMS)value of SnS(ZB) thin film obtained with Cu-doped concentrations equal to y = 6%, is about of 54 nm. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed the existence of Cu in the films. Optical analyses by means of transmission T(λ) and reflection R(λ) measurements show 1.51 eV as a band gap value of SnS:Cu(6%) which is nearly equal to the theoretical optimum value of 1.50 eV for efficient light absorption. On the other hand, Cu-doped tin sulphide exhibits a high absorption coefficient up to 2 × 10⁶ cm⁻¹, indicating that SnS:Cu can be used as an absorber thin layer in photovoltaic structure such as SnS:Cu/ZnS/SnO₂:F and SnS:Cu/In₂S₃/SnO₂:F, where ZnS and In₂S₃ are chemically deposited in a previous studies.     

Topographic and spectroscopic characterization of electronic edge states in CVD grown graphene nanoribbons

We used scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/S) techniques to analyze the relationships between the edge shapes and the electronic structures in as-grown chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). A rich variety of single-layered graphene nanoribbons exhibiting a width of several to 100 nm and up to 1 μm long were studied. High-resolution STM images highlight highly crystalline nanoribbon structures with well-defined and clean edges. Theoretical calculations indicate clear spin-split edge states induced by electron-electron Coulomb repulsion. The edge defects can significantly modify these edge states, and different edge structures for both sides of a single ribbon produce asymmetric electronic edge states, which reflect the more realistic features of CVD grown GNRs. Three structural models are proposed and analyzed to explain the observations. By comparing the models with an atomic resolution image at the edge, a pristine (2,1) structure was ruled out in favor of a reconstructed edge structure composed of 5-7 member rings, showing a better match with experimental results, and thereby suggesting the possibility of a defective morphology at the edge of CVD grown nanoribbons.     

Development of a robust and efficient biogas processor for hydrogen production. Part 2: Experimental campaign

In this study, a robust and efficient decentralized fuel processor based on the direct autothermal reforming (ATR) of biogas with a nominal production rate of 50 Nm³/h of hydrogen and a plant efficiency of about 65% was developed and tested. The ATR unit is composed of a structured catalyst support for the biogas reforming close coupled to a catalytic wall-flow filter to retain eventual soot particles.The performance of the conventional random foam and homogeneous lattice supports structures for the production of hydrogen from the ATR reaction was investigated. 15–0.05 wt%-Ni-Rh/MgAl₂O₄-SiSiC structured catalyst and LiFeO₂-SiC monolith were selected for the conversion of biogas to hydrogen and for the syngas post-treatment process, respectively. For all the experiments, a model synthetic biogas was used and the catalytic activities were evaluated in three different experimental facilities: lab bench, pilot test rig and demonstration plant. High methane conversions (>95%) and hydrogen yields (>1.8) reached in the lab bench were also achieved in the pilot and demonstration plant operating at different GHSV.Results of duration test using a foam coupled to the filter has demonstrated that the pre-commercial processor is reliable while offering a satisfactory reproducibility and negligible pressure drop. A thermodynamic equilibrium and a cold gas efficiency of 90% were reached for an inlet temperature of 500 °C, O/C: 1.1 and S/C: 2.0, as predicted with the Aspen simulation.     

Assessing impacts on people's relationships to place and community in health impact assessment: an anthropological approach

This paper explores a way in which health impact assessment (HIA) practitioners can improve their evaluation of the effects of infrastructure developments on people's intangible connections and emotional attachments to places and communities, and their health impacts. This assessment poses conceptual and methodological challenges. It is argued that social anthropology and the social sciences offer HIA a conceptual vocabulary and a methodology for exploring these relationships. These relationships are defined then positioned in HIA as an outcome of the health determinant, social capital. The paper offers a critique of their treatment in an HIA case study from the United Kingdom. Its shortcomings are used to propose a predominantly qualitative, anthropological methodology. The overall approach offers benefits. Practitioners gain clarification, new tools, a more holistic HIA, and links between these relationships, well-being, and sustainability and resilience. Developers are shown how to sensitise their approach, potentially enhancing community support.     

Influence of the synthesis route on sol–gel SiO2–TiO2 (1:1) xerogels and powders

Five different sol–gel routes are used in order to synthesize mixed SiO₂–TiO₂ materials. Simple mixing of the Ti and Si precursors, pre-hydrolyzing of TEOS, modification of the Ti alkoxide with acetic acid, isoamyl alcohol and acetylacetone lead to translucent gels with different time of gelation. Different techniques such as TGA, DTA, XRD and IR spectroscopy are used to characterize each material. IR spectroscopy revealed the presence of Si–O–Ti and Si–O–Si bonds for all the xerogels letting suppose a composite microstructure of the gels. Pre-hydrolyzing of TEOS and modification of Ti alkoxide with isoamyl alcohol are the most appropriate routes to retain the anatase phase up to 1100 °C.