Associations between age,gender, psychosocial and health characteristics in the Candrive II study cohort

The relations among driving-related psychosocial measures (e.g., driving comfort, attitudes toward driving) and measures of self-reported health were examined in the context of driver characteristics (i.e., age and gender) within the Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly (Candrive II) baseline data, available for the cohort of 928 drivers, 70 years of age and older. Older members of the cohort had lower comfort scores and poorer perceptions of their driving abilities. Men reported significantly higher levels of driving comfort than women. When analyses including health were controlled for age and gender, significant relations with health status were evident for most of the psychosocial measures. These findings extend previous research and suggest that attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about driving may be influenced by health status and act as mediators in the self-regulation process.     

Direct index of refraction measurements at extreme-ultraviolet and soft-x-ray wavelengths

Coherent radiation from undulator beamlines has been used to directly measure the real and imaginary parts of the index of refraction of several materials at both extreme-ultraviolet and soft-x-ray wavelengths. Using the XOR interferometer, we measure the refractive indices of silicon and ruthenium, essential materials for extreme-ultraviolet lithography. Both materials are tested at wavelength (13.4 nm) and across silicon's L2 (99.8 eV) and L3 (99.2 eV) absorption edges. We further extend this direct phase measurement method into the soft-x-ray region, where measurements of chromium and vanadium are performed around their L3 absorption edges at 574.1 and 512.1 eV, respectively. These are the first direct measurements, to our knowledge, of the real part of the index of refraction made in the soft-x-ray region.     

Tissue lead concentration during chronic exposure of Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow) to lead nitrate in aquarium water

The fathead minnow is a useful species for evaluating the toxicity of wastewater effluents. While this fish is widely used for "survival" studies of metal toxicity, little or no work has been done on the tissue distribution of metals in fathead minnows. To determine the distribution of tissue lead, aquarium studies were conducted for several weeks with fish maintained in soft synthetic freshwater. Lead- (II) nitrate was added to three aquaria attaining concentrations of 20-30 ppb (aquarium B), 100-140 ppb (aquarium C), and roughly 200 ppb (aquarium D). Results were compared to controls (aquarium A). During the initial week, the majority of aquarium D fish died, whereas few deaths occurred in the other groups. Lead accumulation was dose- and tissue-dependent, with highest uptake by the gills. Gill concentrations of aquarium D fish averaged about 4-fold higherthan in skeleton or skin and muscle. In vitro, lead (2.5-25 ppm) caused dose-dependent reductions in the ratio of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) in gills incubated in physiological buffer. These findings demonstrate that fathead minnow gills bind and accumulate waterborne lead rapidly and preferentially and raise the possibility that gill lipid peroxidation contributes to lead toxicity at low water hardness.     

Multimodal Characterization of Crystal Structure and Formation in Rubrene Thin Films Reveals Erasure of Orientational Discontinuities

Multimodal multiscale characterization provide opportunities to study organic semiconducting thin films with multiple length scales, across multiple platforms, to elucidate crystallization mechanisms of the various microstructures that impact functionality. With polarized scanning transmission X-ray and 4D-scanning transmission electron microscopy, hybrid crystalline structures in rubrene thin films in which large crystalline domains surround a common nucleus and transition to a spherulite morphology at larger radii is observed. These high-resolution techniques reveal how azimuthal orientational discontinuities at smaller radii are erased as spherulite morphology takes hold. In situ crystallization in the films with optical microscopy is also captured, discovering the importance of considering the initial temperature increase of a film during thermal annealing over the crystallization timescale. This kinetic information of the radial crystallization rate and of corresponding film heating kinetics is used to estimate the temperature at which the larger crystalline regions transition into a spherulite. By combining the results obtained from the different characterization modes, it is learned that thermal conditions can sensitively affect the crystallization of rubrene and other organic thin films. The observations suggest opportunities for more complex temperature-dependent processing to maximize hybrid structures’ functionality in organic thin films and demonstrate that multimodal studies deepen the understanding of structure-function dynamics.     

Integrating micro metal-air batteries in lateral flow test for point-of-care applications

Lateral flow test assay requires integrated micro power sourcesto realize quantitative testing as well as to enhance accuracy. Conventional dry batteries generally havepollution issues for this task, while the recently emerged paper-based fuel cells are both expensive and low-voltage that restrict their usage. In comparison, the metal-air battery (MAB) using a metal anode and an air-breathing cathode could be a much better solution. In this study, different micro metal-air batteries are integrated onto paper substrates, producing micro power sources that are low-cost, high-voltage and environmentally friendly. Their performances are compared under both alkaline and salt electrolytes in terms of power output, fabrication cost and specific energy. Among them, the Al-air battery with an alkaline electrolyte and the Mg-air battery with a salt electrolyte are more advantageous than others, achieving high voltage outputs of 1.55 V and 1.53 V at 1 mA cm^?2, respectively. By using acarbon grid instead of asilver grid as current collector, and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubesinstead of MnO₂ as oxygen reduction catalyst, the as-fabricated micro MABs can be much cheaper and greener for disposable lateral flow test devices. Finally, a two-cell micro Al-air battery pack, which is integrated into a digital pregnancy tester, provides powersuccessfully for its operation for more than 5 minutes.     

Test anxiety and the hierarchical model of approach and avoidance achievement motivation.

This research was designed to incorporate the test anxiety (TA) construct into the hierarchical model of approach and avoidance achievement motivation. Hypotheses regarding state and trait TA were tested in 2 studies, and the results provided strong support for the predictions. State TA (specifically, worry) was documented as a mediator of the negative relationship between performance-avoidance goals and exam performance. The positive relationship between performance-approach goals and exam performance was shown to be independent of TA processes. A series of analyses documented the conceptual and functional convergence of trait TA and fear of failure (FOF), and further validation of the proposed integration was obtained by testing trait TA/FOF and state TA together in the same model. Mastery goals were positively and performance-avoidance goals negatively related to long-term retention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Family and individual difference predictors of trait aspects of negative interpersonal behaviors during emerging adulthood.

A latent trait-state-occasion (TSO) model (D. A. Cole, N. C. Martin, & J. H. Steiger, 2005) was used to isolate the trait and state components of negative interpersonal behaviors toward a friend or romantic partner during emerging adulthood. Results indicate that variance in negative interpersonal behaviors was due to nearly equal portions of Trait and Occasion factors. Variability in the trait aspects of negative interpersonal behaviors was then predicted by theoretically relevant constructs. In particular, mothers' negative behaviors during adolescence, adolescent core self-evaluations, negative emotionality, and feelings of security in close relationships had independent effects in predicting the enduring aspects of negative interpersonal behaviors. All told, these results indicate that TSO models can be helpful tools for understanding the developmental antecedents of the trait-like aspects of interpersonal processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)