Trajectories of autonomy development across the adolescent transition in children with spina bifida.

Objective: The current study investigated individual growth in autonomy development across the adolescent transition, comparing the trajectories of children with and without spina bifida. Method: Individual growth curve modeling procedures were utilized to describe the developmental course of autonomy across four waves of data collection, from ages 9 to 15, and to test whether illness status [spina bifida vs. matched comparison group (N = 68 for both groups at Time 1)] would significantly predict individual variability in autonomy development. Potential moderators [child gender, SES, and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) score] of the association between illness status and autonomy development were also examined. Results: Children with spina bifida demonstrated distinct developmental trajectories, though the nature of the group differences varied by type of autonomy development (emotional vs. behavioral), context (i.e. school vs. family), and reporter. Significant interactions with PPVT score and child gender were found. Conclusion: Overall, children with spina bifida show considerable developmental resiliency, but may lag behind their peers in specific areas of autonomy. Boys with spina bifida, and children with spina bifida who have lower than average levels of verbal intelligence, appear to be at greater risk for exhibiting delays in autonomy development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation and optimisation of five different extraction methods for soy DNA in chocolate and biscuits. Extraction of DNA as a first step in GMO analysis

A method is described to discriminate between genetically modified (GM) and non‐modified foodstuffs by detecting the presence of newly introduced genes at the protein or DNA level. Currently available methods operate almost exclusively at the DNA level and are based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The first and most crucial step in this process is the isolation of DNA. In this study, five different methods for the isolation of DNA from chocolate and biscuits were evaluated, using four commercially available extraction kits and a non‐commercial method for amplification of the soybean‐specific lectin gene. The latter method involves the use of hot‐start Taq polymerase, to prevent the formation of non‐specific amplification products, and an increase in the number of cycles from 35 to 41. The performance of the non‐commercial cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)‐based method was the best, taking into consideration the adaptations of the extraction procedure, although this method was more time‐consuming than the others. Chocolate (white, milk and dark) and several biscuits generated positive amplification results using this PCR approach. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Microstructural evolution of a silicon carbide-carbon coated nanostructured ferritic alloy composite during in-situ Kr ion irradiation at 300℃ 450℃

This work focuses on irradiation behaviors of a novel silicon carbide and carbon coated nanostructured ferritic alloy (SiC-C@NFA) composite for potential applications as a cladding and structural material for next generation nuclear reactors.The SiC-C@NFA samples were irradiated with 1 MeV Kr ions up to 10 dpa at 300 and 450 ℃.Microstructures and defect evolution were studied in-situ at the IVEM-Tandem facility at Argonne National Laboratory.The effects of ion irradiation on various phases such as α-ferrite matrix,(Fe,Cr)7C3,and (Ti,W)C precipitates were evaluated.The α-ferrite matrix showed a continuous increase in dislocation density along with spatial ordering of dislocation loops (or loop strings) at ＞5 dpa.The size of the dislocation loops at 450 ℃ was larger than that at 300 ℃.The nucleation and growth of new (Ti,W)C precipitates in α-ferrite grains were enhanced with the ion dose at 450 ℃.This study provides new insight into the irradiation resistance of the SiC-C@NFA system.     

Nickel-containing magnetoceramics from water vapor-assisted pyrolysis of polysiloxane and nickel 2,4-pentanedionate

In this study, novel ferromagnetic Ni-containing silicon oxycarbide (SiOC–Ni) was successfully fabricated from a base polysiloxane (PSO) with the addition of nickel 2,4-pentanedionate. The resultant SiOC–Ni nanocomposite consists of in situ formed Ni nanocrystallites with a small amount of NiO uniformly dispersed in the amorphous SiOC matrix, and the corresponding nanocrystallite size increases with the increase of the pyrolysis temperature. The formation of nickel silicides (Ni_xSi_y) is completely suppressed by the effect of water vapor during the pyrolysis. The fundamental phase evolution process and mechanisms are explained. In an argon atmosphere, the SiOC–Ni materials pyrolyzed at 900°C are stable up to 1000°C with less than 6 wt% weight loss; they exhibit desirable electrical conductivity up to ~900°C with the highest electrical conductivity at ~247 S/m. This series of SiOC–Ni materials also demonstrates exciting ferromagnetic behaviors. Their new semiconducting behavior with soft ferromagnetism presents promising application potentials for magnetic sensors, transformers, actuators, etc.     

A developmental study of practical problem solving in adults.

Previous research indicates that young and middle-aged adults perform better than other age groups on problems similar to those they might encounter in their everyday lives. However, elderly adults have not performed better than other age groups on problems designed to give them the advantage. In order to ensure that the problems used in the present study were ones that elderly adults might encounter, elderly adults were recruited to help develop the problems. The resulting problems were administered to adults between the ages of 20 and 80. Performance was found to increase from the 20- to 40-year-old age group and decrease thereafter. Thus, when elderly adults devise practical problems that are intended to give elderly adults the advantage, the elderly adults still perform less well than do middle-aged adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integration of physical and semantic information in object processing

Physiological studies report independent processing pathways for form and colour information. A more-complex picture on human subjects has previously been reported. A sequential matching task was used that was based on a physical property of an object and in which semantic relations between stimuli were manipulated. Performance was affected by semantic information when matching was based on a property of the form of an object (its orientation, shape, or size). Effects of semantic information were eliminated when matching was based on the colour of a local part of an object but were found again when subjects matched pictures on the basis of the percentage of a colour integrated across the shape boundary. The results suggest independent selection mechanisms in vision in which selection by local colour can be based on inhibition of the form-processing pathway whilst processing of the global configuration of the form of an object activates automatically the identification process.     

The buck stops here: A survey of the financial status of PhD graduate students in psychology, 1966–1987.

Results of a survey of 454 graduate PhD candidates in psychology (1966–1987) suggest that current graduate students must assume a greater proportion of the cost of their education. Several strategies for increasing graduate student stipends are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relation between ego identity and temporal perspective.

In an attempt to expand the ego identity concept of J. E. Marcia (1975) to include the area of temporal perspective, 80 male undergraduates were administered a time line developed by the present 1st author. Temporal density (percentage of experiences in each of 5 time zones), temporal extension (chronological time spans for the past, future, and overall), and perceived duration (line length for each of 5 time zones) were measured, and an identity status interview was rated with a 4-status classification system (diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and identity achievement). Findings show significant differences between identity groups with regard to the proportional allocation both of experiences (i.e., density) and of linear space (i.e., perceived duration) among the time zones. The achievement and foreclosure groups generally scored higher on measures of futurity than did the diffusion and moratorium groups. Results point toward the crucial importance of the contextual framework in interpreting findings regarding temporal perspective. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Panic onset and major events in the lives of agoraphobics: A test of contiguity.

Major life events were reported in greater numbers and by a higher percentage of 50 index agoraphobics during a time period around panic onset than during either a within-subjects or a between-subjects control period. These differences were found for analyses of life events in general, events that preceded panic, and foreseeable events that occurred shortly after panic onset. Though many events involved separation or interpersonal conflict, other types of events were frequently reported. Results provide more convincing evidence than prior studies of a contiguous relationship between life events and onset of panic attacks associated with agoraphobia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children and Computers: Do Sex-Related Differences Persist?

A three-year study of middle-school and high-school students shows that girls are less interested in computers and less confident in their computer skills even when they have as much experience with the technology as boys.