Mood-Induced Increases in Alcohol Expectancy Strength in Internally Motivated Drinkers.

This study investigated whether exposure to musical mood induction procedures (MMIP) differentially increases the strength of specific alcohol expectancies for coping motivated (CM) versus enhancement motivated (EM) drinkers. Participants were 86 undergraduates who had elevated scores on either the CM or EM subscale of the Drinking Motives Questionnaire (M. L. Cooper, 1994). Participants were randomly assigned to either a positive or negative mood condition. The Alcohol Craving Questionnaire (E. G. Singleton, S. T. Tiffany, & J. E. Henningfield, 1994) was administered at baseline and after MMIP to assess phasic changes in alcohol expectancy strength. Consistent with hypotheses, only CM drinkers in the negative mood condition reported increased relief expectancies, and only EM drinkers in the positive mood condition reported increased reward expectancies. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empowering Local Communities? An International Review of Community Land Trusts

This paper aims to investigate the premise that community land trusts (CLTs) offer a method of delivering affordable housing that empowers local communities and provides democratic management of community assets. The paper provides a comparative analysis of CLT developments in England, Scotland and the USA, reviewing the policy and literature to identify two key approaches that underpin CLTs: an approach to property development that emphasises resale restrictions used to preserve housing use for the CLT's target clientele, and an approach to citizen governance that privileges local communities. The paper identifies a variation of practices that underpin the operation of CLTs in each country and uses the advanced developments in Scotland and the USA to illustrate some of the challenges that remain if the CLT sector in England is to continue its recent growth.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Manganese (II) Complexes of Phthalic and Isophthalic Acid: X-Ray Crystal Structures of [Mn(ph)(Phen)(2)(H(2)O)]. 4H(2)O, [Mn(Phen)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2)(Isoph)(2)(Phen). 12H(2)O and {[Mn(Isoph)(bipy)](4). 2.75biby}(n)(phH(2) = Phthalic Acid; isoph = Isophthalic Acid; phen = 1,10-Phenanthroline; bipy = 2,2-Bipyridine)

Manganese(II) acetate reacts with phthalic acid (phH(2)) to give [Mn(ph)].0.5H(2)O (1). Reaction of 1 with 1,10-phenanthroline produces [Mn(ph)(phen)].2H(2)O (2) and [Mn(ph)(phen)(2)(H(2)O)].4H(2)O (3). Reaction of isophthalic acid (isophH(2)) with manganese(II) acetate results in the formation of [Mn(isoph)].2H(2)O (4). The addition of the N,N-donor ligands 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine to 4 leads to the formation of [Mn(2) (isoph)(2)(phen)(3))].4H(2)O (5), [(Mn(phen)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2)(isoph)(2)(phen).12H(2)O (6) and {[Mn(isoph)(bipy)](4).2.75 biby}(n) (7), respectively. Molecular structures of 3, 6 and 7 were determined crystallographically. In 3 the phthalate ligand is bound to the manganese via just one of its carboxylate groups in a monodentate mode with the remaining coordination sites filled by four phenanthroline nitrogen and one water oxygen atoms. In 6 the isophthalates are uncoordinated with the octahedral manganese center ligated by two phenanthrolines and two waters. In 7 the Isophthalate ligands act as bridges resulting in a polymeric structure. One of the carboxylate groups is chelating a single manganese with the other binding two metal centres in a bridging bidentate mode. The phthalate and isophthalate complexes, the metal free ligands and a number of simple manganes salts were each tested for their ability, to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans. Only the "metal free" 1,10-phenanthroline and its manganese complexes were found to be active.     

The effect of surface deformation on the hot corrosion behavior of some nickel-chromium alloys

The resistance of some NiCr alloys to Na₂SO₄-induced hot corrosion at 900°C has been found to be strongly affected by surface treatments such as grit-blasting and mechanical indentation. These cold-work procedures, when followed by recrystallization anneal, produced a large number of new grain boundaries in the deformed region. When deformed-and-annealed specimens of NiCr, Ni15 Cr and IN 738 were placed directly in contact with molten Na₂SO₄, the grain boundaries facilitated sulphur penetration and enhanced metal wastage. The deleterious effects of mechanical treatments could, in the case of Ni15 Cr, be offset by suitable thermal treatments such as pre-oxidation prior to Na₂SO₄ exposure.     

Synthesis optimization and characterization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The unique properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have suggested applications in a variety of fields. Multiwalled nanotubes were synthesized using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) procedures and subsequently characterized. Reaction parameters such as catalyst type and carrier gas flow rate were optimized to produce well-aligned multiwalled nanotubes with lengths between a few microns to several millimeters. Characterization was performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermo-gravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy, focusing on composition and purity. Results show the synthesis of high-purity nanotubes of several millimeters in length from iron, nickel, cobalt, and titanium carbide catalysts with thermal stability to above 550°C.     

Contingency management for smoking cessation in adolescent smokers.

This pilot study evaluated the use of contingency management (CM) procedures in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for smoking cessation in adolescents. Twenty-eight treatment-seeking adolescent smokers participated in a 1-month, school-based smoking cessation program and were randomly assigned to receive either CM with weekly CBT or CBT alone. In the CM+CBT group, biochemical verification of abstinence was obtained twice daily during the first 2 weeks, followed by daily appointments during the 3rd week and once every other day during the 4th week. Participants were monetarily reinforced for abstinence on an escalating magnitude schedule with a reset contingency. At the end of 1 week and 1 month of treatment, abstinence verified using quantitative urine cotinine levels was higher in participants in the CM+CBT group (1 week: 76.7%; 1 month: 53.0%) when compared with the CBT-alone group (1 week: 7.2%; 4 weeks: 0%). These preliminary results provide a strong initial signal supporting the utility of CM techniques for smoking cessation in adolescents and demonstrate the feasibility of implementing such a program in a school setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

一种通用的trimmed曲面三角化算法

本文提出一种既可用于进行trimmed曲面求交,也可用于进行trimmed曲面显示的快速trimmed曲面三角化算法。算法主要基于本文首次提出的对trimmed曲面的空间及参数trimmed边界进行相关离散的思想和入边、出边、跨边三角形等新概念。算法已经成功地应用于雕塑立体造型系统MESSAGE中,进行trimmed曲面的求交与显示。     

K+] dependence of open-channel conductance in cloned inward rectifier potassium channels (IRK1, Kir2.1)

Potassium conduction through unblocked inwardly rectifying (IRK1, Kir2.1) potassium channels was measured in inside-out-patches from Xenopus oocytes, after removal of polyamine-induced strong inward rectification. Unblocked IRK1 channel current-voltage (I-V) relations show very mild inward rectification in symmetrical solutions, are linearized in nonsymmetrical solutions that bring the K+ reversal potential to extreme negative values, and follow Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz constant field equation at extreme positive E alpha. When intracellular K+ concentration (KIN) was varied, at constant extracellular K+ concentration (KOUT) the conductance at the reversal potential (GREV) followed closely the predictions of the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz constant field equation at low concentrations and saturated sharply at concentrations of > 150 mM. Similarly, when KOUT was varied, at constant KIN, GREV saturated at concentrations of > 150 mM. A square-root dependence of conductance on KOUT is a well-known property of inward rectifier potassium channels and is a property of the open channel. A nonsymmetrical two-site three-barrier model can qualitatively explain both the I-V relations and the [K+] dependence of conductance of open IRK1 (Kir2.1) channels.