Flood hydrology and methylmercury availability in coastal plain rivers

Mercury (Hg) burdens in top-predator fish differ substantially between adjacent South Carolina Coastal Plain river basins with similar wetlands coverage. In the Congaree River, floodwaters frequently originate in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont regions, where wetlands coverage and surface water dissolved methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations are low. Piedmont-driven flood events can lead to downward hydraulic gradients in the Coastal Plain riparian wetland margins, inhibiting MeHg transport from wetland sediments, and decreasing MeHg availability in the Congaree River habitat. In the adjacent Edisto River basin, floodwaters originate only within Coastal Plain sediments, maintaining upward hydraulic gradients even during flood events, promoting MeHg transport to the water column, and enhancing MeHg availability in the Edisto River habitat. These results indicate that flood hydrodynamics contribute to the variability in Hg vulnerability between Coastal Plain rivers and that comprehensive regional assessment of the relationship between flood hydrodynamics and Hg risk in Coastal Plain streams is warranted.     

In the name of Mussolini: Explaining the schism in an Italian right-wing political party.

The authors present a study testing and refining the social psychological model of schism in groups (F. Sani, 2005) by applying it to the schism that occurred in Alleanza Nazionale--an Italian political party of the right--in 2003. The authors found that perceptions of identity subversion (a sense that the group essence has been undermined by a change made by the group majority) have negative effects on group identification and positive effects on aversive emotions (dejection, agitation, and anger). Perceived identity subversion also has a negative influence on perceived group entitativity, which in turn has positive effects on group identification. Finally, group identification has a negative impact, and aversive emotions have a positive impact, on schismatic intentions. The authors also found that the more those who oppose the change are seen as having the ability to voice their dissent, the less both the negative impact of group identification and the positive impact of aversive emotions on schismatic intentions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Camera perspective bias in videotaped confessions: Experimental evidence of its perceptual basis.

The camera perspective from which a criminal confession is videotaped influences later assessments of its voluntariness and the suspect's guilt. Previous research has suggested that this camera perspective bias is rooted in perceptual rather than conceptual processes, but these data are strictly correlational. In 3 experiments, the authors directly manipulated perceptual processing to provide stronger evidence of its mediational role. Prior to viewing a videotape of a simulated confession, participants were shown a photograph of the confessor's apparent victim. Participants in a perceptual interference condition were instructed to visualize the image of the victim in their minds while viewing the videotape; participants in a conceptual interference condition were instructed instead to rehearse an 8-digit number. Because mental imagery and actual perception draw on the same available resources, the authors anticipated that the former, but not the latter, interference task would disrupt the camera perspective bias, if indeed it were perceptually mediated. Results supported this conclusion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

We must be the change we want to see in the world: Psychologists in the statehouse.

Psychologists are serving as state legislators in increasing numbers. A brief synopsis of earlier articles by psychologist–legislators and an introduction to 2 new articles are presented. The author goes on to describe the difficulties of being both a psychologist and a legislator. The importance of supporting these leaders is stressed. Individual psychologists and state psychological associations are urged to help elect and nurture psychologists who take on the responsibilities of political leadership. It is noted that female psychologists currently outnumber male psychologists in state legislatures. The importance of developing relationships with political leaders is emphasized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hydrogen Supply Options and Issues

Methods of hydrogen gas production for hydrogenation are discussed: steam reforming of natural gas, electrolysis, by-product clean-up by PSA (pressure swing absorption) or scrubbing, and others. Hydrogen can be obtained from a customer-owned hydrogen plant or as a merchant product supplied by an industrial gas supplier. The merchant product can be delivered in trailers as gas, liquid-high (up to 2,200 psig), low pressure (up to 130 psig), or supplied over the fence from a pipeline or hydrogen generating plant. Several factors must be considered in selecting an optimum supply, including availability and cost of capital and of operating labor, use patterns, average demand, instantaneous demand, use pressure, growth projections, and purity requirements. Recent field test data have shown that increased hydrogen purity can improve the hydrogenation processes. To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Laser-induced fluorescence detection on multichannel electrophoretic microchips using microprocessor-embedded acousto-optic laser beam scanning

An improved method for fast scanning and fluorescence detection on multimicrochannel microchips is presented using acousto-optic-deflection-driven laser-beam scanning. A microprocessor embedded subsystem used in conjunction with LabView program as the human-machine interface for control of laser-beam scanning and data preprocessing allowed faster scanning and addressing speeds to be attained and improved attenuation calibration and the data sampling speed. This system allows for flexible, high-resolution fluorescence detection for multimicrochannel electrophoresis in a manner that can be applied to a number of high-throughput analysis applications. Incorporating an F-theta focusing lens into the optical set-up allowed for a laser spot as small as 10 microm to accurately be addressed to the center of microchannels. With this spot size, it will be possible to further increase the channel density in the scanning range without encountering crosstalk. Using a six-channel microchip (four separation channels, two alignment channels), the simultaneous separation and fluorescence detection of amino acids and DNA digest samples in four channels is illustrated. User-friendly interpretation of the separation data is facilitated not only by a peak alignment/normalization routine developed within the software, but also through improved signal-to-noise ratios obtained through exploitation of signal processing.     

An ERP system performance assessment model development based on the balanced scorecard approach

Previously completed research has not been significant when regarding the aspect of deriving a model for measuring the performance of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Therefore, this research attempts to present an objective and quantitative assessment model based on the Balance Scorecard approach for the purpose of appraising the performance of the ERP system. The methodology used in this research involves the Grounded Theory, Expert Questionnaire, the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and the Fuzzy Theory to filter out and develop the KPIs for the ERP system performance assessment model. It is expected that such a model may be used by enterprises to assess the efficiency of the ERP system during the various stages of management and support within the system. Finally, this assessment model is verified in a case company through the examination of its unbiased and quantifiable assessment approach. This result allows us to further understand authentic efficiency, and explore if enterprises have fulfilled their proposed objectives after the introduction of the ERP system.     

Changing middle-school students’ attitudes and performance regarding engineering with computer-based social models

Women’s under-representation in fields such as engineering may result in part from female students’ negative beliefs regarding these fields and their low self-efficacy for these fields. In this experiment, we investigated the use of animated interface agents as social models for changing male and female middle-school students’ attitudes toward engineering-related fields, their self-efficacy for these fields, and their math performance. Students interacted with either a female or a male computer-based agent or they did not interact with an agent. The female agent increased interest, utility beliefs, self-efficacy, and math performance compared to control and, for boys, decreased stereotyping. Mediational analyses indicated that the female agent facilitated interest and math performance by enhancing self-efficacy. The findings indicate that interface agents may be used effectively as social models for influencing attitudes and beliefs and supporting performance.     

Biosynthesis and role of 3-methylbutanal in cheese by lactic acid bacteria: Major metabolic pathways,enzymes involved,and strategies for control

Branched chain aldehyde, 3-methylbutanal is associated as a key flavor compound with many hard and semi-hard cheese varieties. The presence and impact of this flavor compound in bread, meat, and certain beverages has been recently documented, however its presence and consequences regarding cheese flavor were not clearly reported. This paper gives an overview of the role of 3-methylbutanal in cheese, along with the major metabolic pathways and key enzymes leading to its formation. Moreover, different strategies are highlighted for the control of this particular flavor compound in specific cheese types.