New climate change scenarios for the Netherlands.

A new set of climate change scenarios for 2050 for the Netherlands was produced recently. The scenarios span a wide range of possible future climate conditions, and include climate variables that are of interest to a broad user community. The scenario values are constructed by combining output from an ensemble of recent General Climate Model (GCM) simulations, Regional Climate Model (RCM) output, meteorological observations and a touch of expert judgment. For temperature, precipitation, potential evaporation and wind four scenarios are constructed, encompassing ranges of both global mean temperature rise in 2050 and the strength of the response of the dominant atmospheric circulation in the area of interest to global warming. For this particular area, wintertime precipitation is seen to increase between 3.5 and 7% per degree global warming, but mean summertime precipitation shows opposite signs depending on the assumed response of the circulation regime. Annual maximum daily mean wind speed shows small changes compared to the observed (natural) variability of this variable. Sea level rise in the North Sea in 2100 ranges between 35 and 85 cm. Preliminary assessment of the impact of the new scenarios on water management and coastal defence policies indicate that particularly dry summer scenarios and increased intensity of extreme daily precipitation deserves additional attention in the near future.     

Non-contact flood discharge measurements using an X-band pulse radar (I) theory

This article describes a non-contact method for measuring surface velocity and discharge in a natural channel. The X-band pulse (9.36 GHz) radar, developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington, was used to scan instantaneously the lateral distribution of surface velocity across a river section, according to Bragg scattering from short waves produced by turbulent boils on the surface of the river. Based on the assumption that the vertical velocity distribution follows a universal power or logarithmic law, the discharges were estimated.     

Poly(3-hexylthiophene)/C60 heterojunction solar cells: Implication of morphology on performance and ambipolar charge collection

The performance of heterojunction organic solar cells is critically dependent on the morphology of the donor and acceptor components in the active film. We report results of photovoltaic devices consisting of bilayers and bulk heterojunctions using poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and Buckminsterfullerene C₆₀. White light power efficiencies of η2.2% (bulk heterojunction) and 2.6% (bilayer) were measured after a thermal annealing step on completed devices. Optical and structural investigations on non-annealed bilayer thin films indicated a distinct porosity of the spin-coated polymer, which allows C₆₀ to penetrate the P3HT layer and to touch the anode. This resulted for these bilayer solar cells in the experimental observation that electrons were collected predominantly at the cathode after photo-excitation of P3HT, but predominantly at the anode after C₆₀ excitation. A morphological model to explain the ambipolar charge collection phenomenon is proposed.     

Effective components of TORDIA cognitive–behavioral therapy for adolescent depression: Preliminary findings.

In this report, we conducted a secondary analysis of the Treatment of SSRI-Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA) study to explore the impact of specific cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment components on outcome. In TORDIA, 334 youths (ages 12 to 18 years) with major depressive disorder who had failed to respond to an adequate course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication were randomized to a medication switch (either to an alternative SSRI or venlafaxine) with or without 12 weeks of adjunctive CBT. Participants who had more than 9 CBT sessions were 2.5 times more likely to have adequate treatment response than those who had 9 or fewer sessions. CBT participants who received problem-solving and social skills treatment components, controlling for number of sessions and other confounding variables, were 2.3 and 2.6 times, respectively, more likely to have a positive response. These preliminary findings underscore the importance of receiving an adequate number of sessions to attain an adequate clinical response. Finally, social skills and problem solving may be active elements in CBT for adolescent depression and should be considered in treatment by those working with seriously depressed youths. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modeling of mechanical response of FRP composites in fire

A thermomechanical model is presented for predicting the time-dependent deflections of cellular FRP slab elements subjected to mechanical loading and fire from one side. The model comprises temperature-dependent mechanical property sub-models for the Young’s modulus, viscosity and coefficient of thermal expansion. Two different thermal boundary conditions were investigated: with and without liquid-cooling of the slab elements in the cells. A finite difference method was used to calculate the deflection at each time step. Deflections resulting from stiffness degradation due to glass transition and decomposition of the resin dominated over those resulting from viscosity and thermal expansion. The predicted total deflections compared well with the measured results over a test period of up to 2 h. The failure mode of the non-cooled specimen could be explained.     

5-HT4 receptor antagonism does not affect motor and reward mechanisms in the rat

5-HT4 receptors are concentrated in areas of the brain which are rich in dopamine neuronal markers, which may suggest that they influence motor and reward processes. We tested this hypothesis by examining the effects of a 5-HT4 receptor antagonist, 8-amino-7-chloro-(N-butyl-4-piperidyl)methylbenzo-1,4-dioxan-5-car boxylate hydrochloride (SB-204070-A) on amphetamine- and nicotine-induced locomotor stimulation in intact rats. In rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesions of the ascending nigrostriatal dopaminergic projection, SB-204070-A was tested for its effects on amphetamine-induced rotation. SB-204070-A was also tested for its effects on rewarded behaviour maintained by intracranial self-stimulation. SB-204070-A did not alter behaviour under any of these conditions, suggesting a lack of involvement of the 5-HT4 receptor in motor and reward processes.     

Mental processes in schizophrenia (based on data from neuropsychological studies)

Features were studied of brain organization of mental processes in schizophrenic patients during the period of aggravation of the condition, using methods common in neuropsychological diagnosis. Faulty mental functions are analyzed in connection with clinical manifestations. Groups have been identified of patients having particular neuropsychological and clinical characteristics.     

Magnetic field dependence of the cyclotron effective mass in the organic superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)2I3

κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂I₃ is an electronically extreme two-dimensional (2d) organic metal with a superconducting transition at around 4K. In magnetic fields above 12T the effective mass, as obtained from the temperature dependence of the amplitudes of Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations, is magnetic field dependent as long as the magnetic field is arranged perpendicular to the conducting planes. In contrast to this by turning the magnetic field 27° or even only by 9° the observed effective mass (as obtained from SdH- and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA)-measurements) is field independent. We suppose that the occurrence of anyons at temperatures below 1K and in fields above 12T is the reason for the observed field dependence of the effective mass.     

Prevention of T cell anergy by signaling through the gamma c chain of the IL-2 receptor

When stimulated through their antigen receptor without requisite costimulation, T cells enter a state of antigen-specific unresponsiveness termed anergy. In this study, signaling through the common gamma chain of the interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-7 receptors in the presence of antigen was found to be sufficient to prevent the induction of anergy. After culture with IL-2, IL-4, or IL-7, Jak3 kinase was tyrosine-phosphorylated, which correlated with the prevention of anergy. Therefore, a signal through the common gamma chain may regulate the decision of T cells to either clonally expand or enter a state of anergy.