Fish on prozac: Effect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors on cognition in goldfish.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 122(4) of Behavioral Neuroscience (see record 2008-09788-005). In the aforementioned article, Figures 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect. The correct figures are printed in the erratum.] The authors studied the effect of fluoxetine (a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor--SSRI) on active avoidance learning in fish. In an active, two-way, shuttle-box avoidance task we compared escape and avoidance of shock among fish receiving chronic administration of fluoxetine (Prozac), others receiving a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist (WAY 100,635; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) and controls. The receptor-blocked group performed significantly more Avoids than the fluoxetine group, which was lowest in performance, or than controls, which were slightly higher, and not significantly different from, the fluoxetine group. This conforms to results reported in rats. Active avoidance learning may be stimulated by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. Fluoxetine-treated fish seemed less active in their home tanks than controls or blocker-treated fish. These results suggest that at the dosages used in this experiment, the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY 100,635 may have positive effects on cognition in fishes and its action may not necessarily be restricted to blockage of 5 HT reuptake inhibition. It seems that serotonin mechanisms may be highly conserved in vertebrate evolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of agro-environmental scenarios to support pesticide risk assessment in Europe

This paper describes work carried out within the EU-funded FOOTPRINT project to characterize the diversity of European agricultural and environmental conditions with respect to parameters which most influence the environmental fate of pesticides. Pan-European datasets for soils, climate, land cover and cropping were intersected, using GIS, to identify the full range of unique combinations of climate, soil and crop types which characterize European agriculture. The resulting FOOTPRINT European agro-environmental dataset constitutes a large number of polygons (approximately 1,700,000) with attribute data files for i) area fractions of annual crops related to each arable-type polygon (as an indicator of its probability of occurrence); and, ii) area fractions of each soil type in each polygon (as an indicator of its probability of occurrence). A total of 25,044 unique combinations of climate zones, agricultural land cover classes, administrative units and soil map units were identified. The same soil/crop combinations occur in many polygons which have the same climate while the fractions of the soils and arable crops are different. The number of unique combinations of climate, soil and agricultural land cover class is therefore only 7961. 26-year daily meteorological data, soil profile characteristics and crop management features were associated with each unique combination. The agro-environmental scenarios developed can be used to underpin the parameterization of environmental fate models for pesticides and should also have relevance for other agricultural pollutants. The implications for the improvement and further development of risk assessment procedures for pesticides are discussed.     

Customer Stratification for an Industrial Distributor With a Service and Repair Business

Abstract

Customer purchasing behavior is not unique. Complex costs to serve make it difficult to manage customers, especially today, when businesses are offering more value-added services. This research study develops a methodology to allow companies with a service or repair component to segment customers, as well as manage relationships and growth. This methodology differs from existing ones by allowing companies to include the full profit contribution derived from billed labor into the customer profitability calculation. By accurately identifying profitability of individual customers, this methodology yields results that are more pragmatic for managers.     

An examination of the reactivity of fly ash in cementitious pore solutions

Fly ash is frequently used to replace cement in concrete, but it is difficult to predict performance based only on the oxide composition, which is typically the only compositional information available. In order to better utilize fly ash in concrete, it is important to develop more meaningful characterization methods and correlate these with performance. The research presented here uses a combination of analytical methods, including X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with multispectral image analysis, and solution analysis to determine the compositions of the glassy phases in a specific fly ash and to examine the fly ash’s reactivity in late- and early-age cement pore solutions, ultrapure water, and sodium hydroxide. The dissolution of individual glassy phases in the fly ash was tracked over time and the precipitation of reaction products monitored. A high-calcium aluminosilicate glass was the most reactive, a low-calcium aluminosilicate glass was of intermediate reactivity and a medium-calcium aluminosilicate glass had the lowest reactivity in the solutions tested for a specific fly ash. This result suggests the glass composition has a strong effect on reactivity, but that that there is not a strict correlation between calcium content and glass reactivity.     

Recommendations for the repair, the lining or the strengthening of concrete slabs or pavements with bonded cement-based material overlays

The recommendations presented in this publication are inspired by the State of the Art Report edited by the RILEM Technical Committee TC 193 RLS Bonded cement-based material overlays for the repair, the lining or the strengthening of slabs and pavements. The objective is to lay out all the practical aspects to be considered in the design of concrete overlays: bonded concrete overlay process, assessment of the existing structure, surface preparation, overlay materials, design methods, construction procedure and quality control/assurance system, and maintenance.     

The role of parkinsonism and antiparkinsonian therapy in the subsequent development of tardive dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a side effect of prolonged neuroleptic treatment presenting as abnormal involuntary movements. This troublesome disorder occurs in only 15-30% of patients taking neuroleptics, suggesting that these individuals may be physiologically distinct so as to be predisposed. This study analyzed possible factors contributing to TD development. Fifty patients on depot neuroleptics for more than 7.1 years were prospectively examined for TD and drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) using the Smith-Trims rating scale for an average of 5 years. The patients were assessed for the severity of the movement and if the movement increased or decreased with respect to neuroleptic dosage, anticholinergic dosage, parkinsonism, and other related factors. Both TD and DIP increased over time. In the patients whose dose of neuroleptic decreased, the increase in TD ratings was not significant. Using a forward stepwise regression DIP was found to increase as TD worsened but did not appear to predict subsequent TD development. Anticholinergic treatment showed a less significant correlation with the change in TD. These results have implications for the management of combined TD and DIP presentation.     

Camelina Meal Increases Egg n-3 Fatty Acid Content Without Altering Quality or Production in Laying Hens

Camelina sativa is an oilseed plant rich in n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and extruding the seeds results in high protein meal (~40%) containing high levels of n-3 fatty acids. In this study, we examined the effects of feeding extruded defatted camelina meal to commercial laying hens, measuring egg production, quality, and fatty acid composition. Lohmann White Leghorn hens (29 weeks old) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatment groups (n = 25 per group) and data was collected over a 12 week production period. All the treatment groups were fed a corn soy based experimental diet containing 0% (control), 5, or 10% extruded camelina meal. We found no significant differences in percent hen-day egg production and feed consumed per dozen eggs. Egg shell strength was significantly higher in both camelina groups compared to the controls. Egg total n-3 fatty acid content increased 1.9- and 2.7-fold in 5 and 10% camelina groups respectively relative to the control. A similar increase in DHA content also occurred. Further camelina meal did not alter glucosinolate levels and no detectable glucosinolates or metabolic product isothiocyanates were found in the eggs from either the 5 or 10% camelina groups. These results indicate that camelina meal is a viable dietary source of n-3 fatty acids for poultry and its dietary inclusion results in eggs enriched with n-3 fatty acids.     

Hydrogen economy transition in Ontario – Canada considering the electricity grid constraints

This paper investigates the feasibility of electrolytic hydrogen production for the transport sector during off-peak periods in Ontario. This analysis is based on the existing electricity system infrastructure and its planned future development up to 2025. First, a simplified but realistic zonal based model for Ontario's electricity transmission network is developed. Then, based on Ontario's Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP), a zonal pattern of generation capacity procurement in Ontario from 2008 to 2025 is proposed, specifying the total effective generation capacity in each zone that contributes to base-load energy. Finally, an optimization model is developed to find the optimal size of hydrogen production plants to be developed in different zones, as well as optimal hydrogen transportation routes to achieve a feasible hydrogen economy penetration in Ontario up to 2025. The proposed model is shown to be an effective planning tool for electrolysis based hydrogen economy studies. The results of the present study demonstrate that the present and projected electricity grid in Ontario can be optimally exploited for hydrogen production, achieving 1.2–2.8% levels of hydrogen economy penetration by 2025 without any additional grid or power generation investments beyond those currently planned.     

利用双处理器延长电池使用寿命

结合采用超低功耗MCU与性能优化型DSP可为系统设计人员带来竞争优势 向着更低功耗、更高性能的电池供电型系统发展的趋势毋庸置疑.对于电池电源而言,消费者希望便携式电子产品能够以"更低电量执行更多功能",同时,众多工业产品也开始转而采用电池供电.     

Detecting psychopathy from thin slices of behavior.

This study is the first to demonstrate that features of psychopathy can be reliably and validly detected by lay raters from “thin slices” (i.e., small samples) of behavior. Brief excerpts (5 s, 10 s, and 20 s) from interviews with 96 maximum-security inmates were presented in video or audio form or in both modalities combined. Forty raters used these excerpts to complete assessments of overall psychopathy and its Factor 1 and Factor 2 components, various personality disorders, violence proneness, and attractiveness. Thin-slice ratings of psychopathy correlated moderately and significantly with psychopathy criterion measures, especially those related to interpersonal features of psychopathy, particularly in the 5- and 10-s excerpt conditions and in the video and combined channel conditions. These findings demonstrate that first impressions of psychopathy and related constructs, particularly those pertaining to interpersonal functioning, can be reasonably reliable and valid. They also raise intriguing questions regarding how individuals form first impressions and about the extent to which first impressions may influence the assessment of personality disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)