Normality and impairment following profound early institutional deprivation: A longitudinal follow-up into early adolescence.

Longitudinal analyses on normal versus impaired functioning across 7 domains were conducted in children who had experienced profound institutional deprivation up to the age of 42 months and were adopted from Romania into U.K. families. Comparisons were made with noninstitutionalized children adopted from Romania and with nondeprived within-U.K. adoptees placed before the age of 6 months. Specifically, the validity of the assessment, the degree of continuity and change in levels of functioning from 6 to 11 years, and the factors in the pre- and postadoption environment accounting for heterogeneity in outcome were examined. Pervasive impairment was significantly raised in children experiencing institutional deprivation for ≥6 months of life, with a minority within this group showing no impairment. There was no additional significant effect of duration of deprivation beyond the 6-month cutoff, and few other predictors explained outcome. The pattern of normality/impairment was mainly established by 6 years of age, with considerable continuity at the individual level between 6 and 11 years. The findings are discussed in terms of the possibility of a sensitive period for development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The ontogeny and significance of infants' facial expressions in the first 9 months of life.

Four studies examined aspects of the differential emotions theory (DET) hypothesis of expressive behavior development. In Study 1, facial-expressive movements of 108 2.5–9-mo-old infants were video recorded in positive and negative mother–infant interactions (conditions). As expected, Max-specified full-face and partial expressions of interest, joy, sadness, and anger were morphologically stable between the 2 ages. Studies 1 and 2 confirmed predicted differential responding to mother sadness and anger expressions and to composite positive and negative conditions. Discrete negative expressions exceeded negative blends, and the amount of both expression types remained stable across ages. Studies 3 and 4 provided varying degrees of support for the social validity of Max-specified infant negative affect expressions. Conclusions include revisions and clarifications of DET. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Carbon deposition from acetone during oxidation of iron—the effects of chromium and nickel

Carbon deposition on iron, and its alloys with nickel and chromium, has been produced by catalytic decomposition of acetone in carbon dioxide at 700°C. Nickel has been identified as the major promoter of carbon deposition under these conditions, although iron is also active. When the conditions favoured the occurrence of carbon deposition, the morphology of the magnetite formed was changed from a crystalline structure to a type resembling “breakaway” oxide. Filamentary carbon was formed in all cases, the diameter of the filaments being dependent on whether chromium was present or absent in the substrate material. Initiation of filamentary growth on these materials is discussed.     

A new type of ozone generator using Taylor cones on water surfaces

Ozone has been found to be effective in many forms of water treatment. As concerns about the safety of alternate methods of water treatment increase (in particular, chlorination), ozone, which is already extensively used in Europe, offers an effective option. This paper describes a new method of ozone generation particularly suited for use in water purification. Most current industrial ozone production is based on “silent” electrical discharges in a gap between concentric electrodes separated by a glass or ceramic dielectric barrier. The authors present experimental results obtained using a parallel-plate discharge geometry. The lower electrode consists of a grounded “pool” of still water separated by a discharge gap from an upper insulated planar electrode. When the electrode is energized by an AC high voltage, a multitude of “Taylor cones” forms on the water surface. The Taylor cones form and collapse randomly and continuously, depending on the electric field. The tips of the cones provide points for electrical discharge pulses which initiate ozone generation. This method generates ozone in close proximity to the water surface. Laboratory experiments show efficiencies for gaseous ozone production as high as 110 g/kWh     

A Comparison of the Migration of ‘Spiked’ and ‘Intrinsic’ Substances from Paper and Board into Raisins and into Tenax as a Food Simulant

Four samples of paper and board (P/B) of a type used for packaging dry foods were subjected to migration experiments using raisins and the polymeric powder Tenax as a food simulant. The P/B samples contained only low levels of diisopropylnaphthalene (DiPN) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), and so, experiments were also conducted after spiking the P/B with added model substances. These were o‐xylene, acetophenone, dodecane, benzophenone, DiPN and DiBP. Migration experiments into raisins and Tenax were conducted for 10 days at 40°C. Migration levels depended strongly on the nature of the substance. Migration from spiked P/B samples was more extensive (as a percentage of that available) than migration of intrinsic migratable substances, and so, studying spiked samples tends to be conservative. It is considered likely that this is because of binding of substances, especially aromatics with pi‐electrons such as DiPN and DiBP, to active sites on the surface of P/B fibres, resulting in non‐linear absorption isotherms. However, further work would be needed to prove this conclusively. Considering the results overall and also that raisins packed in P/B can have a shelf life of up to 1 year at ambient temperatures, the test results using Tenax as a food simulant are considered to be appropriate without application of a correction factor. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A rule-based expert system for earthquake prediction

Earthquake is a natural disaster which causes extensive damage as well as the death of thousands of people. Earthquake professionals for many decades have recognized the benefits to society from reliable earthquake predictions. Techniques like: mathematical modelling, hydrology analysis, ionosphere analysis and even animal responses have been used to forecast a quake. Most of these techniques rely on certain precursors like, stress or seismic activity. Data mining techniques can also be used for prediction of this natural hazard. Data mining consists of evolving set of techniques such as association rule mining that can be used to extract valuable information and knowledge from massive volumes of data. The aim of this study is to predict a subsequent earthquake from the data of the previous earthquake. This is achieved by applying association rule mining on earthquake data from 1979 to 2012. These associations are polished using predicate-logic techniques to draw stimulating production-rules to be used with a rule-based expert system. Prediction process is done by an expert system, which takes only current earthquake attributes to predict a subsequent earthquake. The rules generated for predicting the earthquake are mathematically validated as well as tested on real life earthquake data. Results from our study show that the proposed rule-based expert system is able to detect 100 % of earthquakes which actually occurred within 15 hours at-most within a defined range, depth and location. This work solely relies on previous earthquake data for predicting the next.     

Recent Experiences with Listeria monocytogenes in New Zealand and development of a food control risk-based strategy

A risk-based strategy for Listeria monocytogenes has been developed by New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Incidents of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods reported to the regulatory authority were analysed to identify common factors that contributed to the contamination. In addition, the current regulatory framework and available food industry guidance were reviewed to prepare a strategy that will provide a consistent and informed approach to managing the risk of L. monocytogenes. Also recognised is the future impact of an aging population and an increase in the availability and range of chilled ready-to-eat foods that should be integrated into the strategy if an objective of ‘no increase in the reported incidence of foodborne listeriosis after five years’ is to be achieved.     

Numerical simulation of the electric field distribution intribo-powder coating of conducting cylindrical objects

The successful implementation of powder coating technology requires detailed investigation of different factors, which can improve, or disturb, the process. The two most important are the air entrainment force and the electric deposition force acting on the powder particles. The authors present a numerical model for predicting the electric field distribution between a tribe gun and a cylindrical object. It is assumed, that the particle distribution is governed primarily by the air flow and that the only source of the electric field is the space charge of the tribocharged particles. Simplified models for the field lines and design configuration have been assumed and the electric field is determined by means of the charge simulation method     

Electrostatic beneficiation of gold ores

The authors present encouraging results obtained in separation of the Doyon gold ores when using the electrostatic inverted roof apparatus described by I.I. Inculer et al. (ibid., vol.IA-9, no.3, p.318-23, 1983). The electrification phenomena through combined tribo-electric and inductive charging were studied at various relative humidities. Contrary to expectations, the experimental work showed that the best separations are achieved at relatively high humidities of ~70% or higher. One of the main cost factors in electrostatic beneficiation of minerals is that of drying the material. The lesser drying required of this gold ore may be of considerable economic importance     

The Analysis of Corona Quenching in Cylindrical Precipitators Using Charge Simulation

The well-known technique of charge simulation has been adapted to model the electrical characteristic of cylindrical electrostatic precipitators. The study involved the evaluation of the electric field, voltage, and charge density distributions in the presence of mild corona quenching. The problem has been treated differently than the classic solution of Pauthenier by modifying the assumptions used for solving Poisson's equation. A comparative study of the classical and modified solutions is performed. The results of the charge simulation model show good agreement with the suggested modified solution of Poisson's equation.