Inattention as a key predictor of tobacco use in adolescence.

The authors examined the prediction from inattention to tobacco use among 2 cohorts (ages 7 and 13) of a community sample followed to young adulthood. Changes in self-reported tobacco use were tested with marginal transitional regression models, using parent and teacher ratings of inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and other psychopathology, along with other factors, as predictors. Inattention, but not hyperactivity-impulsivity, significantly predicted adolescent tobacco use and young adult daily tobacco use. Peer substance use, parental substance use, and conduct disorder also predicted increases in tobacco use. African American ethnicity was strongly protective against later tobacco use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The addition of reactive compounds to nonreactive dyebaths. Part 5-procedure for obtaining reactive dyeings on cotton

An easy procedure for the preparation of solutions containing certain types of reactive dye and their subsequent application on cotton is described. This procedure takes advantage of the expected high reactivity of these dyes, which have adjacent hydroxy and amino groups in the molecule, and strives to evade the problems usually associated with the preparation and application of such dyes in the solid form. Several factors that affect the colour strength of reactive dyeings thus obtained are investigated. Possible disadvantages when applying this procedure are discussed.     

Facial expressions of emotion and psychopathology in adolescent boys.

On the basis of the widespread belief that emotions underpin psychological adjustment, the authors tested 3 predicted relations between externalizing problems and anger, internalizing problems and fear and sadness, and the absence of externalizing problems and social–moral emotion (embarrassment). Seventy adolescent boys were classified into 1 of 4 comparison groups on the basis of teacher reports using a behavior problem checklist: internalizers, externalizers, mixed (both internalizers and externalizers), and nondisordered boys. The authors coded the facial expressions of emotion shown by the boys during a structured social interaction. Results supported the 3 hypotheses: (a) Externalizing adolescents showed increased facial expressions of anger, (b) on 1 measure internalizing adolescents showed increased facial expressions of fear, and (c) the absence of externalizing problems (or nondisordered classification) was related to increased displays of embarrassment. Discussion focused on the relations of these findings to hypotheses concerning the role of impulse control in antisocial behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Generation on 3F4-3H6 transition in Tm3+ ion upon direct excitation of 3F4 state by nuclear pumped gas laser

The possibility of lasing in a YAP:Tm³⁺ crystal with ³F₄ level of the Tm³⁺ ion directly pumped by narrowband radiation of a gas laser operating in the middle IR range has been studied. The efficiency of the pumped energy conversion into spontaneous emission on the ³F₄-³H₆ transition in the Tm³⁺ ion was within 65–75%. The efficiency of generation with respect to the absorbed pumping energy was ～4%.     

Delivery of chemotropic proteins and improvement of dopaminergic neuron outgrowth through a thixotropic hybrid nano-gel

Chemotropic proteins guide neuronal projections to their final target during embryo development and are useful to guide axons of neurons used in transplantation therapies. Site-specific delivery of the proteins however is needed for their application in the brain to avoid degradation and pleiotropic affects. In the present study we report the use of Poly (ethylene glycol)-Silica (PEG-Si) nanocomposite gel with thixotropic properties that make it injectable and suitable for delivery of the chemotropic protein semaphorin 3A. PEG-Si gel forms a functional gradient of semaphorin that enhances axon outgrowth of dopaminergic neurons from rat embryos or differentiated from stem cells in culture. It is not cytotoxic and its properties allowed its injection into the striatum without inflammatory response in the short term. Long term implantation however led to an increase in macrophages and glial cells. The inflammatory response could have resulted from non-degraded silica particles, as observed in biodegradation assays.     

Determination of herbicide residues in agricultural crops, foods, soil and water by chronometric method

Summary The method described is based on the biochemical detection of herbicides on a silica gel thin layer following their chromatographic separation. The detection reagent is a mixture of a homogenate of bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris) and of the redox indicator 2,6-dichloroindophenol. This chronometric determination of herbicide residues is based on the observation that dark blue inhibition zones appear on a pale yellow-green background during the exposure of the sprayed chromatoplates Silufol to light. The dark blue zones disappear again after a time, their lifetime is proportional to the amount of the herbicide in the zone.Because of the high selectivity and sensitivity of the biochemical detection this method does not require a multiple clean-up procedure, nor does it require sophisticated instrumentation. It equals gas chromatography in sensitivity and precision. The determination limit lies between 0.01 and 0.001 mg · kg^–1, the average recovery rate is 85 to 90%.

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Bestimmung der Herbicid-Rückstände in landwirtschaftlichen Produkten, in Lebensmitteln, im Boden und Wasser mit der chronometrischen Methode

Zusammenfassung Die Methode stützt sich auf einen biochemischen Nachweis der Herbicide auf einer Silicagel-Dünnschichtplatte nach ihrer chromatographischen Verteilung. Das Nachweisreagens ist eine Mischung aus einem Homogenat von Blättern der Bohnen (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) und des Redoxindikators 2,6-Dichlorphenolindophenol. Die chronometrische Bestimmung der Herbicidrückstände gründet sich auf die Beobachtung, daß während der Lichtexposition der besprühten Dünnschichtplatte Silufol auf einem gelbgrünen Hintergrund dunkelblaue Inhibitionszoneu entstehen, welche nach einer bestimmten Zeit verschwinden. Die Haltbarkeitszeit der Zone ist der Menge des Herbicids in der Zone direkt proportionell.In Betracht der hohen Selektivität und Empfindlichkeit des biochemischen Nachweises benötigt die Methode keine komplizierte Reinigung der Extrakte und keine hochentwickelte Ausstattung des Labors mit Instrumenten. Die Empfindlichkeit und Genauigkeit der chronometrischen Methode ist gleich der der Gaschromatographie. Die Bestimmungsgrenze ist 0,01 bis 0,001 mg·kg^–1, die Wiederfindung ist 85–90%.

     

Multiple-incidence and multifrequency for profile reconstruction of random rough surfaces using the 3-D electromagnetic fast multipole model

A fast algorithm for reconstructing the profile of random rough surfaces using electromagnetic scattering data is presented. The algorithm is based on merging a fast forward solver and an efficient optimization technique. The steepest descent fast multipole method is used as the three-dimensional fast forward solver. A rapidly convergent descent method employing a "marching-on" strategy for processing multifrequency and multi-incidence angle data is introduced to minimize an underlying cost function. The cost function represents the error between true (synthetic) and simulated scattered field data. Several key issues that impact the accuracy in reconstructing the rough profile are examined in this work, e.g., the location and number of receivers, the incident and scattered directions, the surface roughness, and details regarding the manner in which sensitivity information is computed in the inversion scheme. The results show that using the multiple-incidence (one angle at a time) and the multifrequency (one frequency at a time) strategies lead to improve the profile reconstruction.     

Electromagnetic scattering interference between two shallow objects buried under 2-D random rough surfaces

A rigorous electromagnetic model has been used to analyze the scattering from two dielectric shallow objects buried under the two-dimensional (2-D) random rough ground (3-D scattering problem) as a means of predicting false alarms. The method of moments (MoM) accelerated by the steepest descent fast multipole method (SDFMM) is used to compute the equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents on all scatterers (i.e., the rough ground and the two buried objects). The roughness parameters influence the scattering interference mechanism of the two objects, however, a large separation distance (e.g., several correlation lengths) showed stronger effect for small ground roughness.     

The catalepsy test: Its ups and downs.

The typical catalepsy (CPSY) test consists of placing an animal in an unusual posture and recording the time taken to correct this posture. This time is regarded as an index of the intensity of CPSY. CPSY is a robust behavior, and the lack of standardization does not usually hinder its actual detection. However, the intensity of the cataleptic effect is influenced by minor methodological differences, and interpretation and comparison of results across laboratories are difficult. The behavioral CPSY test can use any of several different apparatus, including wire grids, parallel bars, platforms, or pegs, to situate the animals in unusual positions. The most common is the bar test (BT), and despite its wide use in psychopharmacological research, even parameters of this test are not standardized. The present article reviews parameters chosen by investigators that measure CPSY. The methodological issues of repeated testing, scaling of scores, apparatus, animal weight, maximal test duration, behavioral criteria, and other influences are discussed. A brief review of the neuropharmacological basis of CPSY is included. It is argued that a universal, standardized BT be adopted by researchers. New data on a novel automated BT in the Digiscan Activity Monitoring System is presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)