Fluorescence histochemical techniques for catecholamines as tools in neurobiology

Formaldehyde-induced and glyoxylic-acid-induced fluorescence histochemistry permits the tissue localization of catecholamines in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), and in culture. Counterstains such as ethidium bromide provide excellent background identification of specific innervated regions in both the CNS and the periphery. Use of fluorescence histochemistry with immunocytochemistry can elucidate catecholamine-peptide relationships. Gelatin-ink perfusion used with fluorescence histochemistry permits the investigation of neuro-vascular relationships and documentation of vascular and parenchymal compartmentation of innervation. Combined use of fluorescence histochemistry and retrograde tracing methods demonstrates the specific cellular sources of innervation of target regions. Micropunch neurochemical analysis provides quantitative data for correlation with fluorescence histochemistry within a target region of innervation, and micro-spectrofluorometric analysis provides a semi-quantitative evaluation of the amount of fluorophore within a target region or within specific subcellular compartments such as the cell body or terminals.     

Assessing and building municipal open data capability

Information Systems and e-Business Management - In the past decade, cities around the world have published their open data as a new service. Some have used this service innovatively, as a vehicle...     

Superior Thermoelectric Performance of SiGe Nanowires Epitaxially Integrated into Thermal Micro-Harvesters

Semiconductor nanowires have demonstrated fascinating properties with applications in a wide range of fields, including energy and information technologies. Particularly, increasing attention has focused on SiGe nanowires for applications in a thermoelectric generation. In this work, a bottom-up vapour-liquid-solid chemical vapour Deposition methodology is employed to integrate heavily boron-doped SiGe nanowires on thermoelectric generators. Thermoelectrical properties –, i.e., electrical and thermal conductivities and Seebeck coefficient – of grown nanowires are fully characterized at temperatures ranging from 300 to 600 K, allowing the complete determination of the Figure-of-merit, zT, with obtained values of 0.4 at 600 K for optimally doped nanowires. A correlation between doping level, thermoelectric performance, and elemental distribution is established employing advanced elemental mapping (synchrotron-based nano-X-ray fluorescence). Moreover, the operation of p-doped SiGe NWs integrated into silicon micromachined thermoelectrical generators is shown over standalone and series- and parallel-connected arrays. Maximum open circuit voltage of 13.8 mV and power output as high as 15.6 µW cm⁻² are reached in series and parallel configurations, respectively, operating upon thermal gradients generated with hot sources at 200 °C and air flows of 1.5 m s⁻¹. These results pave the way for direct application of SiGe nanowire-based micro-thermoelectric generators in the field of the Internet of Things.     

On the One-Moment Analysis of Telephone Traffic Networks

In this paper is a formulation of the one-moment method of analysis for a telephone traffic network in terms of the link offered traffics. By using a slightly strengthened version of the assumptions hitherto used in one-moment analysis, and by developing a type of limited availability link model, it is shown how the offered traffic to each link may be found, and thus how the network analysis may be reduced to a valid set of link analyses.     

Hospital to community: Changes in practice and outcomes.

This article describes the need for psychologists working with persons with disabilities to establish validity procedures within research findings and clinical practices. It highlights the importance of providing a contextual framework for behavior by adopting a socioecological paradigm of disability. Theoretical, research, and clinical practice implications are discussed, such as the evolution of paradigms guiding rehabilitation, the need to move research out of the laboratories and into the field, and the importance of focusing on the broader socioenvironmental needs of persons with disabilities. The author also offers specific recommendations for psychologists engaged in activities across education, research, and clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Judgments about estrogen replacement therapy: The role of age, cognitive abilities, and beliefs.

This study investigated age, cognitive abilities, health beliefs, and other factors in women's judgments about effective treatments for menopause. Women (N?=?102) ranging in age from 20 to 79 read a vignette about a woman facing a decision about Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) and then made judgments about what should be done. Participants also completed a battery of questions pertaining to ERT and cognitive abilities. Path-analytic techniques were used to determine the role of specific cognitive abilities and the representation of menopause and its treatment in making judgments about ERT treatments. Cognitive abilities had direct effects on treatment decisions. Education affected the number of perceived options for treatment. Age and education indirectly affected treatment decisions, operating through cognitive abilities. Factors related to the mental representation of menopause had no direct effects and few indirect effects on treatment decisions. Potential mechanisms that can help older adults compensate for declines in cognitive abilities in medical decisions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A high-speed high-resolution ultrasonic inspection machine

Ultrasonic inspection of tires has previously been performed using low frequencies in air, which results in low spatial resolution. In addition, the tire has not typically been completely inspected. The limited scanning area and scanning resolution in previous work has been the result of difficulties in acquiring and handling large data sets, difficulties in positioning transducers in a large number of locations over a complex shape, and display or interpretation of the large amount of data which would be generated in such a system. A new design is presented which combines a low-cost multiple processor design to perform motion control, data acquisition, and data transfer. The design is generally useful in a number of different nondestructive evaluation and other large-data-set data acquisition and control applications     

Effectiveness of grief therapy: A meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis addressed the question of how effective grief therapy is and for whom, using B. J. Becker's (1988) techniques for analyzing standardized mean-change scores. Analyses were based on 35 studies (N?=?2,284), with a weighted mean effect size (ES) of δ+?=?0.43 (95% confidence interval?=?0.33 to 0.52). Clients in no-treatment control groups showed little improvement (d=?=?0.06), possibly because of the relatively long delay between loss and treatment in most studies (mean delay?=?27 months). Moderators of treatment efficacy included time since loss and relationship to the deceased. Client selection procedures, a methodological factor not originally coded in this meta-analysis, appeared to contribute strongly to variability in ESs: a small number of studies involving self-selected clients produced relatively large ESs, whereas the majority of studies involving clients recruited by the investigators produced ESs in the small to moderate range. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Psychotherapy with HIV-infected clients: Factors influencing notification of third parties": Comment.

Comments on the article by N. F. Kozlowski et al (see record 1998-10341-011) about HIV infected clients and whether or not there ought to be notification. Kozlowski et al cite the California case of Tarasoff v. Regents of University of California (1976) 9 times, however, they never officially cite it, nor do they put it in their reference section. Without going into a refresher course about the meaning of Tarasoff, when employing this case law in a study it is important to (1) carefully read the case, (2) become familiar with the case law in your state or states, (3) shepardize all relevant cases to make sure that they are still good law (there has been a lot of movement with Tarasoff over the years), and (4) have at least a consultation with an attorney who is familiar with this area of law. Legal accuracy is extremely important and without it, our studies cannot withstand interdisciplinary scrutiny. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)