Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) use human gestures but not nonhuman tokens to find hidden food.

The authors examined the ability of domestic dogs to use human body cues (gestures) and equivalent-sized nonhuman cues to find hidden food in an object choice paradigm. In Experiment 1 the authors addressed the importance of the human element of the cue, and the effects of size, topography, and familiarity on dogs' success in using cues. Experiment 2 further explored the role of the human as cue-giver, and the impact of a change in the experimenter's attentional state during cue presentation. This included a systematic test of the role inanimate tokens play as cues apart from human placement. Our results indicate that dogs are more sensitive to human cues than equivalent nonhuman cues, and that the size of the cue is a critical element in determining dogs' success in following it. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

HRAD1 and MRAD1 encode mammalian homologues of the fission yeast rad1(+) cell cycle checkpoint control gene

Eukaryotic cells arrest at the G2checkpoint in the presence of DNA damage or incompletely replicated DNA. This cell cycle checkpoint prevents the development and propagation of genomic instability. In the fission yeast, this process requires the action of a number of genes, including rad1(+) . We report here the identification of human and mouse cDNAs that exhibit extensive sequence homology to rad1(+) . The human gene, called HRAD1 , encodes a 282 amino acid protein that is 27% identical and 53% similar to yeast Rad1p. The human homologue maintains its sequence similarity over the full length of the protein, including the three proposed 3'-->5' exonuclease domains, and the leucine rich repeat region. The mouse gene, called MRAD1 , encodes a 280 amino acid protein that is 90% identical and 96% similar to HRAD1 at the amino acid level. Expression of HRAD1 in yeast rad1 mutants partially restores radiation resistance and G2checkpoint proficiency to these mutants. Evolutionaryconservation of structure between HRAD1 , MRAD1 , rad1(+), Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD17 and the Ustilago maydis REC1 checkpoint genes suggests that the function of the encoded proteins is conserved as well. The ability of HRAD1 to partially complement yeast rad1 mutants suggests that this gene is required for G2checkpoint control in human cells.     

Low‐cost mounting arrangements for building‐integrated wind turbines

Micro‐generation is being widely promoted as a way for householders in the UK and elsewhere to take part in ‘the Green Revolution’. Building‐integrated wind turbines (BIWTs) provide a way to do this, enabling people to reduce their contribution to the problems of both climate change and decreasing fossil fuel availability. Although energy yields from BIWTs for many householders have been shown to be low, there are still situations where such turbines can make a useful contribution to electricity generation, e.g. in windier areas and for isolated detached buildings. The standards for the installation of BIWTs are still being developed including those for the safe mounting of turbines on domestic buildings. This paper investigates the current trend for mounting small wind turbines on the walls of domestic premises and compares this with an approach which uses roof timbers. It identifies the main characteristics of building construction which affect the integrity of such installations. European and British standards have been used to calculate wind and gravitational loads. Finite element models are used to derive working stresses and, hence, some basic principles of good design. The likely costs of wall and roof mounting are then compared. Installation and health and safety issues are also examined briefly. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Technologies for in situ cleanup of contaminated sites

Groundwater contamination by non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) and denser than water non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) poses one of the greatest remedial challenges in the field of environmental engineering. Due to low water solubilities and aqueous diffusivities, conventional pump-and-treat technologies have a poor record of success in remediation of DNAPL contaminated aquifers. Better success has been found with the removal of volatile LNAPLs due to higher gaseous diffusivities, propensity for aerobic biodegradation, and ease of pumping and handling large quantities of gas. An evaluation of in situ cleanup technologies on the basis of their applicability to in situ treatment of NAPL contaminated aquifers is presented. Emphasis is placed on treatment of the separate phase occurring in the saturated zone. Soil washing, air sparging, biodegradation, electro-osmosis, enhanced steam extraction, stabilization/solidification, treatment walls, radio frequency heating, and containment systems and barriers are among the in situ technologies reviewed. In the context of the governing contaminant fate and transport processes, the relative merits of each technology are assessed on the basis of its theoretical background, field implementability, level of demonstration and performance, waste, technical and site applicability/limitations, commercial availability, and cost and residuals management.     

Extralimbal Trantas' dots: a clinicopathologic report

We report a 29-year-old man with a recurrent history of conjunctival redness, itching, and tearing, who was first seen with transient, multiple Trantas' dots bilaterally on the bulbar, forniceal, and palpebral conjunctiva. Conjunctival scrapings and biopsy revealed histopathologic features consistent with Trantas' dots. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that clearly documents the occurrence of extralimbal Trantas' dots on the bulbar, forniceal, and palpebral conjunctiva.     

Megachiropteran bats (pteropus) utilize human referential stimuli to locate hidden food.

Spontaneous point-following behavior has been considered an indicator of advanced social cognition unique to humans. Recently, it has been suggested that a close evolutionary relationship with humans could result in similar social skills in domesticated species. An alternative view is that the mechanism is not genetic domestication alone but instead a combination of phylogenetic and ontogenetic variables. Here we test the necessity of phylogenetic domestication by investigating the point-following behavior of a captive population of nondomesticated megachiropteran bats (Pteropus pumilus, Pteropus rodricensis, Pteropus conspicillatus, Pteropus vampyrus). Three of five subjects were highly successful in following an unfamiliar human's point to a target location, providing the first empirical evidence of cross-species social referencing in bats. The three successful bats were all born in captivity and socialized to humans early in life, whereas unsuccessful bats were wild-born individuals. This study provides evidence that referential point following is not restricted to domesticated animals and indicates that early experience may be important. Megachiropteran bats may prove to be a useful model for studying social behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety, depression, and diseases of the lower extremities

There are many physical disorders that have little or no organic basis. Many of these conditions are caused by mental pathology. Certain emotional disorders can magnify the person's ability to perceive pain. Anxiety and depression are often the culprits. It behooves the podiatrist to be aware that anxiety and depression can be a cause of foot and ankle pain or that they can exacerbate true physical symptoms. The podiatrist should be able to perform a rudimentary psychological evaluation in the outpatient clinical setting, and should be prepared to make a timely and proper referral to a mental health professional for additional testing and treatment.     

Parents matter in HIV-risk among probation youth.

We investigated the relationship between parenting practices (i.e., parental monitoring, parent permissiveness, and parent-teen communication), and probation youth's HIV-related sexual risk behavior (i.e., ever having sex, condom use, alcohol and marijuana use before sex). Participants were 61 male and female juvenile offenders, ages 13?17, on probation and awaiting sentencing. Results indicated different relationships between parenting and HIV-related sexual risk behavior for probation boys and girls. Parental monitoring, parenting permissiveness, and parent-teen communication were collectively related to whether girls' ever had sex and with boys' use of alcohol and marijuana use before last sex. Findings underscore the important role of parenting on probation teens' HIV risk behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)