Movement abnormalities and the progression of prodromal symptomatology in adolescents at risk for psychotic disorders.

The link between movement abnormalities and psychotic disorders is presumed to reflect common neural mechanisms that influence both motor functions and vulnerability to psychosis. The prodromal period leading to psychotic disorders represents both a viable point for intervention and a developmental period that, if studied, could shed light on etiology; however, no published studies have examined the temporal progression of this link. A group with high levels of prodromal symptomatology (i.e., adolescents with schizotypal personality disorder [SPD]; n = 42) and both psychiatric controls (with other personality disorders or conduct disorder [OD]; n = 30) and nonpsychiatric controls ([NC]; n = 49) were recruited. Videotapes of structured psychiatric interviews were coded for movement abnormalities by raters blind to participants' diagnostic status, and follow-up assessments were conducted 1 year later. Controlling for psychotropic medications, the authors found that adolescents with SPD exhibited significantly more motor abnormalities in the face and upper body than did OD and NC controls. At baseline, movement abnormalities were positively correlated with the severity of positive, negative, and total prodromal symptoms. Within the SPD group, baseline movement abnormalities predicted symptom severity 1 year later. Movement abnormalities represent an early risk indicator that may be predictive of later symptom severity and potentially of psychosis onset. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Can the distress-signal and arousal-reduction views of crying be reconciled? Evidence from the cardiovascular system.

Theorists have staked out two ostensibly opposing views of human crying as either an arousing behavior that signals distress or a soothing behavior that reduces arousal after distress. The present study examined whether these views of crying might be reconciled by attending to physiological changes that unfold over crying episodes. Sixty female students watched neutral and cry-eliciting films while autonomic physiology, including respiratory sinus arrhythmia and pre-ejection period, was assessed. Crying participants exhibited heart rate increases that rapidly subsided after crying onset. Crying onset was also associated with increases in respiratory sinus arrhythmia and slowed breathing. All crying effects subsided by 4 minutes after onset. It is possible that crying is both an arousing distress signal and a means to restore psychological and physiological balance, depending on how and when this complex behavior is interrogated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Task control and cognitive abilities of self and spouse in collaboration in middle-aged and older couples": Erratum.

Reports an error in "Task control and cognitive abilities of self and spouse in collaboration in middle-aged and older couples" by Cynthia A. Berg, Timothy W. Smith, Kelly J. Ko, Nancy J. M. Henry, Paul Florsheim, Gale Pearce, Bert N. Uchino, Michelle A. Skinner, Ryan M. Beveridge, Nathan Story and Kelly Glazer (Psychology and Aging, 2007[Sep], Vol 22[3], 420-427). Due to an editing mistake, the order of authorship was incorrect. The correct order is as follows: Berg, Smith, Ko, Beveridge, Story, Henry, Florsheim, Pearce, Uchino, Skinner, & Glazer. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2007-13103-002.) Collaborative problem solving may be used by older couples to optimize cognitive functioning, with some suggestion that older couples exhibit greater collaborative expertise. The study explored age differences in 2 aspects of collaborative expertise: spouses' knowledge of their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities and the ability to fit task control to these cognitive abilities. The participants were 300 middle-aged and older couples who completed a hypothetical errand task. The interactions were coded for control asserted by husbands and wives. Fluid intelligence was assessed, and spouses rated their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities. The results revealed no age differences in couple expertise, either in the ability to predict their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities or in the ability to fit task control to abilities. However, gender differences were found. Women fit task control to their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities; men only fit task control to their spouse's cognitive abilities. For women only, the fit between control and abilities was associated with better performance. The results indicate no age differences in couple expertise but point to gender as a factor in optimal collaboration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ultra-Thin Si<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ge<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> Dislocation Blocking Layers for Ge/Strained Si CMOS Devices

We demonstrate ultra-thin (<150 nm) Si_1−x Ge _x dislocation blocking layers on Si substrates used for the fabrication of tensile-strained Si N channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) and Ge P channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) devices. These layers were grown using ultra high vacuum chemical vapor deposition (UHVCVD). The Ge mole fraction was varied in rapid, but distinct steps during the epitaxial layer growth. This results in several Si_1−x Ge _x interfaces in the epitaxially grown material with significant strain fields at these interfaces. The strain fields enable a dislocation blocking mechanism at the Si_1−x Ge _x interfaces on which we were able to deposit very smooth, atomically flat, tensile-strained Si and relaxed Ge layers for the fabrication of high mobility N and P channel metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices, respectively. Both N and P channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transister (MOSFETs) were successfully fabricated using high-k dielectric and metal gates on these layers, demonstrating that this technique of using ultra-thin dislocation blocking layers might be ideal for incorporating high mobility channel materials in a conventional CMOS process.     

Understanding barriers to home‐based and self‐care in‐center hemodialysis

Despite superior outcomes and lower associated costs, relatively few patients with end‐stage renal disease undergo self‐care or home hemodialysis. Few studies have examined patient‐ and physician‐specific barriers to self‐care and home hemodialysis in the modern era. The degree to which innovative technology might facilitate the adoption of these modalities is unknown. We surveyed 250 patients receiving in‐center hemodialysis and 51 board‐certified nephrologists to identify key barriers to adoption of self‐care and home hemodialysis. Overall, 172 (69%) patients reported that they were “likely” or “very likely” to consider self‐care hemodialysis if they were properly trained on a new hemodialysis system designed for self‐care or home use. Nephrologists believed that patients were capable of performing many dialysis‐relevant tasks, including: weighing themselves (98%), wiping down the chair and machine (84%), clearing alarms during treatment (53%), taking vital signs (46%), and cannulating vascular access (41%), but thought that patients would be willing to do the same in only 69%, 34%, 31%, 29%, and 16%, respectively. Reasons that nephrologists believe patients are hesitant to pursue self‐care or home hemodialysis do not correspond in parallel or by priority to reasons reported by patients. Self‐care and home hemodialysis offer several advantages to patients and dialysis providers. Overcoming real and perceived barriers with new technology, education and coordinated care will be required for these modalities to gain traction in the coming years.     

Intensive dialysis and pregnancy

Pregnancy in women with end stage renal disease on renal replacement therapy is uncommon due to the physiologic changes associated with renal failure as well as the complexities and risk involved in managing these patients. As most of these women had long periods of illness with chronic kidney disease, the effects of their chronic illness together with the current societal trends to delay child bearing to a more advanced maternal age can hamper fertility. For those able to conceive, intensified hemodialysis (HD), through longer and/or more frequent dialysis sessions, offers improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. Intensified HD is most conveniently offered in the patient's home, where possible. This review expands the scope of the Implementing Hemodialysis in the Home website and associated supplement published previously in Hemodialysis International and includes information tailored to women of reproductive age. We describe the necessary counseling that women should receive before conception and before intensification of HD, and provide a detailed management strategy that includes nephrologic and obstetric care, should pregnancy occur.     

Distributed workflow mapping algorithm for maximized reliability under end-to-end delay constraint

A distributed scientific workflow mapping algorithm for maximized reliability under certain end-to-end delay (EED) bound is proposed. It is studied in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment, where computing node and communication link failures are inevitable. The mapping decision and the stored table information is distributed among various nodes in order to achieve scalability and robustness, which are especially important for large-scale distributed systems. This Distributed Reliability Maximization workflow mapping algorithm under End-to-end Delay constraint (dis-DRMED) considers both the maximum reliability and the minimum EED objectives in a two-step procedure. In the first step, a mapping algorithm combining iterative Critical Path search and Layer-based priority assigning techniques (CPL) is adopted to minimize the EED by focusing on the optimal allocation of tasks on the critical path. In the second step, tasks on noncritical paths are remapped to improve the overall execution reliability. Simulation results under various system setups demonstrated that dis-DRMED achieved considerably higher reliability values under the same EED constraint compared with some representative workflow mapping algorithms.     

Colony-Specific Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profile in Formica argentea Ants

The cuticular hydrocarbons of the ant Formica argentea were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Behavioral bioassays tested the role of each class of cuticular hydrocarbon in nestmate recognition, and statistical analyses looked for potential colony-specific signatures. The cuticular hydrocarbons of F. argentea consist of n-alkanes, alkenes, and methyl-branched alkanes. Behavioral bioassays demonstrated that changes in the alkene and methyl-branched alkane signature of F. argentea increased aggression, but changes in alkanes did not. Statistical analyses demonstrated that F. argentea workers present a colony-specific hydrocarbon profile based on their methyl-branched C₂₉ alkane signature. Using this signature alone, it is possible to group worker ants statistically by nest, suggesting that methyl-branched C₂₉ alkanes may be important in nestmate recognition for this species. These results support the idea that variation in positional isomers of cuticular hydrocarbons of the same carbon chain length may provide enough information for nestmate recognition. Although the addition of alkenes increased aggression in F. argentea, alkenes did not provide a colony-specific signature. This study reinforces the idea that investigators studying nestmate recognition should not examine cuticular hydrocarbon profiles as a whole but rather, should look for colony-specific signatures embedded in parts of the profile.     

Effect of deicing solutions on the tensile strength of micro- or nano-modified asphalt mixture

This paper reports on the potential benefits of micro- or nano-sized materials for asphalt mixtures used on pavements, specifically when they are exposed to water or deicing solutions. Asphalt mixtures were prepared with various amount of nanoclay and/or carbon microfiber, and compacted using the Superpave? gyratory compactor. Moisture susceptibility and deicer impacts were assessed by exposing the samples to water or deicing chemicals (NaCl, MgCl₂ and CaCl₂), and seven freeze–thaw cycles, in a modified AASHTO T283 test. Comparisons of micro- or nano-modified asphalt mixtures exposed to deicers are made based on results of indirect tensile strength tests, which preliminarily demonstrate the great potential of using microfibers and nanoclays in asphalt mixture for improved performance. Based on the results, it was found that the addition of nanoclay and carbon microfiber would improve a mixture’s moisture susceptibility performance or decrease the moisture damage potential in most cases. The detailed effects of deicing solutions on the tensile strength of micro- or nano- modified asphalt mixture are discussed in this paper.