Recognition of posed and genuine facial expressions of emotion in paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenia.

Most previous research reporting emotion-recognition deficits in schizophrenia has used posed facial expressions of emotion and chronic-schizophrenia patients. In contrast, the present research examined the ability of patients with acute paranoid and nonparanoid (disorganized) schizophrenia to recognize genuine as well as posed facial expressions of emotion. Evidence of an emotion-recognition deficit in schizophrenia was replicated, but only when posed facial expressions were used. For genuine expressions of emotion, the paranoid-schizophrenia group was more accurate than controls, nonparanoid-schizophrenia patients, and depressed patients. Future research clearly needs to consider the posed versus genuine nature of the emotional stimuli used and the type of schizophrenia patients examined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Towards a high-throughput real-time confocal microfluidic system for monitoring absorbance spectra in mixed-phase chemical reactions

In this work, we present a compact, real-time absorbance spectroscopy instrument, designed with a particular focus on taking spectroscopic readings in a microfluidic channel environment and selectively analysing an active volume in this channel by adding confocality. There are time-saving advantages to industry in carrying out and monitoring chemical reactions in a high-throughput microfluidic environment as opposed to manually mixing and then analysing chemicals. In this paper, we use absorbance spectroscopy to investigate a particular complex mixed-phase reaction (specifically, the reaction of colloidal diluted hair dye with an oxidising agent and catalyst), which has an additional complication of oxygen gas being released then trapped in the mixture as the reaction progresses. We find that the results obtained using our instrument are comparable to those obtained in a standard spectrometer. Oxygen bubbles formed in the reaction, however, present a significant obstacle to obtaining the correct sample depth in narrow flow channels. This is mitigated through the use of a camera which views the reaction between the glass and liquid through the use of remote reimaging, allowing the bubbles to be detected via histogram analysis while spectroscopy takes place enabling rogue readings to be removed, and also serves to monitor the overall density of the ‘gassy colloidal’ mixture produced.     

Electromyograph biofeedback as a relaxation technique: A critical appraisal and reassessment.

A review of the frontalis EMG biofeedback (BF) literature demonstrates that EMG BF compares favorably with other relaxation procedures, although some reviewers have prematurely concluded that alternative relaxation treatments are preferable on a cost–benefit basis. Previous statements about the efficacy of BF have oversimplified the data, however, and have failed to recognize sufficiently that reliable effects are associated with different relaxation procedures and specific trait dimensions operating for certain groups of Ss. Definitive statements regarding the efficacy of EMG BF and other relaxation treatment modalities need to acknowledge the full complexity of the data and await further research on specific person–treatment interactions. (3 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of sex role deviance in disturbed male adolescents on the perception of psychopathology.

Investigated the effect of sex-role deviance on the perception of psychopathology and correlated the size of this effect with measures of sex-role ideology and gender stereotyping. The study employed a person perception rating task in which Ss (99 school teachers; mean age 24.4) evaluated written case histories of sex-role deviant and sex-role congruent male adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. Male adolescents were judged to be more disturbed if their hobbies, career aspirations, and interests were deviant for their sex than if they were sex-role congruent. The relationship between evaluative bias (i.e., the extent to which greater disturbance was perceived in sex-role deviant than congruent stimulus persons) and measures of gender stereotyping and sex-role ideology was also established. Gender stereotyping correlated significantly with bias, while sex-role ideology was not significantly correlated. Similar bias effects were found for male and female Ss. (French summary) (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Housing Intensification in Auckland,New Zealand: Implications for Children and Families

While commonplace throughout most of the world, inner-city apartments have often been perceived as unsuitable for children in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, where discourses of houses, gardens and open spaces as being desirable sites for children prevail. However, increasing awareness of the need for environmental sustainability has placed the viability of sprawling suburbs in question. As city centres intensify, more families are moving into inner-city apartments. In a study carried out in response to this change, in-depth interviews with parents living in Auckland's CBD found that key drivers were affordability, less reliance on cars and the convenience of the central location. Drawbacks included poor quality apartment design and lack of play space for children, both inside apartment complexes and outdoors. Fears about children's safety were strong. An assessment of the findings raises questions about the social sustainability of recent apartment developments in Auckland, particularly for families.     

Environmental tobacco smoke as a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in settled household dust

Environmental tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution. Dust and surfaces may remain contaminated long after active smoking has ceased (called 'thirdhand' smoke). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known carcinogenic components of tobacco smoke found in settled house dust (SHD). We investigated whether tobacco smoke is a source of PAHs in SHD. House dust was collected from 132 homes in urban areas of Southern California. Total PAHs were significantly higher in smoker homes than nonsmoker homes (by concentration: 990 ng/g vs 756 ng/g, p = 0.025; by loading: 1650 ng/m(2) vs 796 ng/m(2), p = 0.012). We also found significant linear correlations between nicotine and total PAH levels in SHD (concentration, R(2) = 0.105; loading, R(2) = 0.385). Dust collected per square meter (g/m(2)) was significantly greater in smoker homes and might dilute PAH concentration in SHD inconsistently. Therefore, dust PAH loading (ng PAH/m(2)) is a better indicator of PAH content in SHD. House dust PAH loadings in the bedroom and living room in the same home were significantly correlated (R(2) = 0.468, p < 0.001) suggesting PAHs are distributed by tobacco smoke throughout a home. In conclusion, tobacco smoke is a source of PAHs in SHD, and tobacco smoke generated PAHs are a component of thirdhand smoke.     

‘Never Mind All That Environmental Rubbish,Get On With Your Architecture’

Could the primacy of green architecture in recent years be eroding the discipline? Is it reducing architecture to a mere ‘environmental techno-science’? Penelope Dean argues for a revised environmental agenda that is driven by ideas and concepts rather than subservient technologies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.