Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire profiles of veterans with traumatic combat exposure: Externalizing and internalizing subtypes.

This study used the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ; A. Tellegen, in press) to identify personality-based subtypes of posttraumatic response. Cluster analyses of MPQs completed by combat veterans revealed subgroups that differed on measures relating to the externalization versus internalization of distress. The MPQ profile of the externalizing cluster was defined by low Constraint and Harmavoidance coupled with high Alienation and Aggression. Individuals in this cluster also had histories of delinquency and high rates of substance-related disorder. In comparison, the MPQ profile of the internalizing cluster was characterized by lower Positive Emotionality, Alienation, and Aggression and higher Constraint, and individuals in this cluster showed high rates of depressive disorder. These findings suggest that dispositions toward externalizing versus internalizing psychopathology may account for heterogeneity in the expression of posttraumatic responses, including patterns of comorbidity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Water bamboo husk reinforced poly(lactic acid) green composites

The water bamboo husk is one of major agricultural wastes in Taiwan. In this study, the powder obtained from the water bamboo husk was added to poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to form novel reinforced biodegradable composites. Morphologies, mechanical properties, and heat resistance of these water bamboo powder reinforced composites were investigated. The results indicate that the char yields were increased as plant powder was incorporated to PLA. In addition, the mechanical properties were also enhanced due to the addition of powders. The increments of storage moduli of PLA were about 50–200%. Moreover, the increments of loss moduli of PLA were about 70–200%. On the other hand, the T_g of PLA was slightly decreased by the addition of powder, and this may improve the brittle characteristics of PLA. Furthermore, this type of reinforced PLA would be more environmental friendly than the artificial additive‐reinforced one. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The State of Disequilibrium between U and Th Series Isotopes in Marine Sediments from the Sudanese Red Sea Coast

The geochemical behavior of U, Th series nuclides in surface marine sediments collected fromthe Red Sea coastal environment of Sudan was examined using daughter/parent and nonisotopic activity ratios. Pronounced anomalous behavior of several series of nuclides has been observed, particularly at shallower depths. On the average, the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U ratio is fairly constant and close to 1.13, suggesting scavenging of ²³⁴U from the overlying water column. In shallow-water sediments collected from the biologically productive area of the fringing reef and from the tidal-flat of Sanganeb atoll, compared to harbor and deep-sea sediments, ²³⁸U was found in large excess relative to ²³²Th. The ²²⁸Th/²³²Th disequilibrium indicates rapid sedimentation at shallower sites, which agrees well with data reported in the literature for similar environments. Depletion was observed of precursor thorium isotopes (²³⁰Th, ²³²Th) with respect to their mobile daughter isotopes of radium (²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra). On the other hand, there is surface enrichment of ²²⁸Th and ²¹⁰Po with respect to their progenitors ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra, as demonstrated by the ²²⁸Th : ²²⁸Ra and ²¹⁰Po : ²²⁶Ra activity ratio, which is greater than unity in all the sediments analyzed. The ²¹⁰Po/²²⁶Ra ratio is fairly constant (average 3.2).     

Porosity distribution in highly compressible cake: Experimental and theoretical verification of the dense skin

The rate of filtration and the water content of cake are influenced by the existence of a dense skin in a highly compressible cake. The phenomenon of the dense skin has been rarely studied, and its existence has not been verified experimentally. In this study, the porosity variation in a very compressible cake is measured by using a new experimental apparatus, and with this the existence of dense skin has been established experimentally. ‘Unified theory on solid-liquid separation’, a recently developed theory, is utilized for calculating the porosity variation in a very compressible cake.     

Rank preservation of matrices with structured uncertainties and itsapplications in robust control theory

Matrix rank is determined by the nonsingularity of its submatrices. For matrices in which entries are quadratic functions of some uncertain parameters, this paper derives sufficient conditions on parameters to that ensure the matrices preserve to some degrees the ranks they have when the parameters are all zero. The rank preservation problem is converted to the nonsingularity analysis problem of the minors of the matrix in discussion, and suitable tools such as the μ-analysis method are used to solve the problem. Applications in robust control theory, including tests for robust controllability/observability, minimum phaseness, coprimeness, and Schur stability, are given, together with illustrative examples,     

Comparison of supports for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from H2 and O2 using Au–Pd catalysts

The direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from H₂ and O₂ using a range of supported Au–Pd alloy catalysts is compared for different supports using conditions previously identified as being optimal for hydrogen peroxide synthesis, i.e. low temperature (2 °C) using a water–methanol solvent mixture and short reaction time. Five supports are compared and contrasted, namely Al₂O₃, -Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, SiO₂ and carbon. For all catalysts the addition of Pd to the Au only catalyst increases the rate of hydrogen peroxide synthesis as well as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide formed. Of the materials evaluated, the carbon-supported Au–Pd alloy catalysts give the highest reactivity. The results show that the support can have an important influence on the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from the direct reaction. The effect of the methanol–water solvent is studied in detail for the 2.5 wt% Au–2.5 wt% Pd/TiO₂ catalyst and the ratio of methanol to water is found to have a major effect on the rate of hydrogen peroxide synthesis. The optimum mixture for this solvent system is 80 vol.% methanol with 20 vol.% water. However, the use of water alone is still effective albeit at a decreased rate. The effect of catalyst mass was therefore also investigated for the water and water–methanol solvents and the observed effect on the hydrogen peroxide productivity using water as a solvent is not considered to be due to mass transfer limitations. These results are of importance with respect to the industrial application of these Au–Pd catalysts.     

Frameworks for understanding emotions and their development: Functionalist and dynamic systems approaches.

In recent years, both functionalist and dynamic systems approaches have assumed increasing prominence in the study of emotion and its development, but the similarities and differences between these perspectives remain largely unexplored and open to more systematic examination. In this article, the authors argue that both approaches share a systems view of emotion and regard emotion in relational, process terms. However, each approach adopts a distinct level of analysis and distinct types of explanation for emotion and its development. Whereas the functionalist approach appeals to formal and final causes to explain patterning in emotion at the level of organism-environment relations, the dynamic systems approach appeals to efficient and material causes to explain emotion at the specific content level of behavior in context. Whether these approaches complement or conflict with one another depends on the extent to which the dynamic systems approach admits abstraction into its explanatory framework. A. Fogel's social process theory and M. D. Lewis' approach to emotion self-organization are discussed in this regard. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Advances in titanium metal injection molding

The approaches to production of titanium powder injection molded parts are reviewed. Historically, oxygen levels have been too high for structural use (particularly with the Ti-6Al-4V alloy). However, recent advances in starting powders, binders and sintering facilities now allow oxygen levels in the Ti-6Al-4V alloy to be controlled to about 0.2 wt.% oxygen. This should result in significant expansion of the titanium PIM market place into aerospace, automobiles, surgical instruments, dentistry, communication devices (such as computers and cell phones), knives and guns. __________ Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Vol. 46, No. 5–6 (455), pp. 118–125, 2007.